Fish farm drops Howard Co. site after opposition

A Florida-based fish farm operator dropped the western Howard County community of Russiaville from its expansion plans Saturday after resistance from neighbors opposed to industrial expansion of any sort in their midst.

The Perfect Ocean Corp. no longer was considering the site about 45 miles north of Indianapolis, the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance said.

"We have spent the past few months in positive negotiations with the prospect to position Howard County favorably," the statement said. "Due to the company's project needs, the site near Russiaville is no longer being considered as a possible location."

Norm Schmitt, a leader among the opponents who said he was prepared to go to court to stop the project, expressed relief at the company's change of heart.

"It didn't have anything to do with that company," he said. "We don't want an industry out here."

He and other area residents say they feared the company's plans could decrease property values or affect wells and septic systems.

Schmitt said opponents offered to help Stuart, Fla.-based Perfect Ocean find another location in the county.

Alliance President Jeb Conrad said the company still was looking at other undisclosed Howard County sites.

"We don't know what the future five, six, seven, eight, 10 years from now are going to look like. The more we can diversify, the better," Conrad said.

County leaders say the estimated 200 jobs the fish farm would bring would be a welcome boost to a hard-hit manufacturing area that continues to have one of the state's highest jobless rates. Howard County had a 12.3 percent unemployment rate in May.

"This is an incredible opportunity to bring a diversified business to the county," county commissioner Tyler Moore said.

Spokesman Austin Davis said Perfect Ocean was looking for locations for 50 to 60 facilities it plans to open over the next decade on several continents. The company has already identified a site in southwestern Kentucky, he said.

The facilities would raise up to 11 million pounds of fish per year in climate-regulated buildings and provide up to 20 varieties of fish for human consumption.