The contract to build the pens for three new salmon farms in the Marlborough Sounds has gone to an overseas company.
One of King Salmon's farms in Tory Strait. Photo: RNZ
New Zealand King Salmon has given the job to a Chilean aquaculture firm, Akva Group.
King Salmon's chief executive Grant Rosewarne said the company chose Akva because the lighter, more buoyant system it wanted was not available in New Zealand.
He said the new flexible wave pens would still be assembled locally, in Marlborough.
The Blenheim company that previously built and maintained the pens for King Salmon said it was disappointed, as it had offered to match the Chilean design.
However, Chief executive of Cuddon Engineering Andy Rowe said he could understand King Salmon's reluctance to go with an unproven design.