$602,381,000,000

ARS is requesting US$127M to build a state-of-the-art aquaponics (dual aquaculture) facility that will serve as a model of sustainability and productivity for the future of the entire industry. This facility will be located on the Panamanian Atlantic coast, adjacent to the sea, where weather patterns are stable and reliable and where the water is clean. American Red Snapper was chosen as the featured species due to its hardiness and exceptionally low mortality rates as compared to other species, its favored fish status in American and Asian markets, and its favorable ratio of demand to historically low availability as the wild Red Snapper is excessively regulated. This operation will raise the American Red Snapper from eggs and hatchlings to a marketable center of the plate size. ARS will generate several streams of revenue by growing, processing, and shipping fresh, frozen, and live fish while culturing Spirulina, a blue-green algae used as a nutritional supplement globally and manufactured on-site. This well-planned complex will utilize a highly accomplished team of aquaculture scientists, highly experienced fish farm operators, a seasoned seafood industry management team, and local labor, providing much-needed jobs to the native Panama community.