\uFEFFMARK WAITE / PVT Beau Dempsey, left, and Randy Black of Ganix Bio-Technologies LLC, address the Pahrump Regional Planning Commission about a proposed shrimp farm on Oakridge Avenue Wednesday. Advertisement

Pahrump might be a good five hours drive from the nearest ocean, but it will be the center of production for over 750,000 pounds of shrimp, under a plan by Ganix Bio-technologies.

The Pahrump Regional Planning Commission Wednesday approved a conditional use permit for a shrimp farm containing two 50,000 square-foot buildings with 72 indoor shrimp ponds, on 9.5 acres at 5280 and 5340 S. Oakridge Ave..

The Nye County commission previously remanded the application back to the RPC Aug. 22, to amend the zoning code to allow indoor agricultural commercial uses in the rural homestead zone.

The shrimp farm will have a ready market for their crop on the Las Vegas strip, much like other agricultural producers in Pahrump, such as Sunrise Acres with its melons or the former Nevada Rose nursery supplied the Las Vegas tourist market.

"I like the rural setting, it's close proximity to Vegas. Vegas is our market, our whole market, a six-mile stretch," said Beau Dempsey, director of operations for Ganix Bio-technologies LLC.

The shrimp farm will grow Penaeus vannamei, a variety of white shrimp common to the Pacific Coast of Ecuador. Chefs don't have to de-vein the shrimp because the company controls the feed cycle, Dempsey. He added the company isn't required to have an exotic animal importation permit from the Nevada Division of Wildlife, since the shrimp won't be able to escape. The stock will be certified pathogen free, Dempsey said.

The 72 ponds will measure 12 feet by 32 feet with water six feet deep, enough to hold 18,000 gallons. Ganix Bio-technologies can produce a crop with a count of 16 to 20 shrimp per pound within 120 days, Dempsey said. Each pond will produce three crops per year.

If Pahrump seems like an unlikely place for a shrimp farm, Dempsey said Ganix Bio-Technologies currently has a shrimp farm for research and development on Main Street in Newburg, N.D., 30 miles from the geographic center of North America.

"It's the farthest you can get from any coastal water source," Dempsey said. It's also the most extreme climate for testing shrimp production, with temperatures well below zero in winter and searing heat in summer, he said.

The North Dakota facility shows a shrimp farm can exist in a town without worries over odor. Since the facility will be indoors, it won't be necessary either to fire off deterrents to pests, like birds, Dempsey said. The property is just south of Escapees RV Park and almost across the street from the former Bandit Brewery building.

Company officials estimate they'll finish construction in nine months. The RPC action is considered final, unless there's an appeal to the Nye County Commission.

Ganix Bio-technologies will employ 15 to 20 employees per building, with entry level positions starting at $12.50 per hour, investor Randy Black said. There will be a shrimp packaging area as well. It will be a 24/7 operation.

Nye County Planning Director Jack Lohman told the RPC, "it's still a residential zone. Even though it's allowed, these are massive buildings."

RPC Chairman Mark Kimball said the intent was to move the buildings toward the center of the property and add landscaped buffering. An earth tone exterior of the buildings was requested, he said.

One of the few questions directed at Ganix representatives involved concerns about any disposal of dead shrimp or hazardous material.

Dempsey said any dead shrimp is required to be frozen and held until its disposed of off-site. There won't be any de-veining or peeling of shrimp at the facility, he said. The shrimp will be kept frozen until delivery to the customer.