Pacific / French Polynesia

Planned French Polynesia fish farm scaled back

16:57 pm on 27 April 2016

French Polynesian president Edouard Fritch Photo: Supplied

The French Polynesian government says the huge Chinese-owned fish farm planned to be set up on Hao atoll will be scaled back.

The project by Tahiti Nui Ocean Foods, which is a subsidiary of the Chinese Tian Rui group, was earlier said to be worth about $US1.4 billion.

After visiting China, the French Polynesian president Edouard Fritch told a news conference in Papeete that about $US760 million would be invested over two to three years.

A permit for the 32-hectare plant is expected to be issued this year.

The plant is expected to create hundreds of jobs.

Hao was a major military base in the latter part of the last century when France carried out its nuclear weapons tests on nearby Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls.

Fish farm project launched in Hao, French Polynesia Photo: supplied