Dirty, Unregulated Industrial Salmon Farms Put Our Waters at Risk

This past summer, around 50,000 industrially farmed salmon wriggled free through holes in their pens into the waters of Machias Bay, Maine. It’s possible the farmed fish survived their prison break to spread diseases that thrive in captivity to critically endangered wild salmon out at sea and upstream in the nearby Machias River. Despite this, the escaped fish were not tracked, and Maine did not hold the industry responsible.  

With millions of salmon being raised on industrial farms in Maine, we cannot risk another incident like this one. To avoid this and a host of other environmental impacts from these farms, CLF is calling for changes to how state regulators oversee salmon farming. 

Revealed: Aquaculture’s wild fish use far higher than previously estimated

A new study published in Science Advances has found that the global aquaculture industry, including salmon farming, may rely on significantly more wild-caught fish than previously estimated.

Led by scientists from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, the study challenges long-held assumptions about the sustainability of fish farming and suggests a substantial impact on wild fish populations.

October Update

Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation continues to work with towns to prevent the sale of the Maine coast for private gain. Our efforts aim to preserve public access for marine harvesters and the public at large, maintaining water quality, and ensuring proper regulation of the state’s public trust. Protect Maine continues to advocate for small owner-operated aquaculture. We believe that with appropriate siting and community input small owner-operated aquaculture is an ideal way to diversify the commercial fishery.

Selling our waters to industrial scale aquaculture

This was originally published in The Boothbay Register.

Written by Camden Reiss

As a marine harvester in the Midcoast and Downeast, part time sternman and advocate for keeping our waters clean and open to everyone, I urge you to look at what is happening along the Maine coast.

We are selling our waters without doing any research about the impacts of industrial scale aquaculture. The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is granting leases for exclusive use in areas all along the coast. Those areas are getting bigger—pushing out other marine harvesters without proper oversight or scientific study regarding the impact on the wild harvest or the environment.

Lawsuit alleges fraud, demands $2 billion fine for seafood giant Cooke Inc.

This article was originally published in the New Bedford Light. Written by Will Sennott.

The lawsuit focuses on Cooke’s Virginia-based subsidiary, Omega Protein, which processes menhaden for fish-oil supplements, fish meal, animal feed and other commercial products.

Cooke Inc., one of the world’s largest seafood conglomerates, and its U.S. subsidiaries could face fines of up to $2 billion after government watchdogs filed a lawsuit alleging that the company has violated foreign ownership laws for at least seven years. 

The Canadian-based seafood giant has a large presence in the U.S. fishing industry, including on the Port of New Bedford. 

Camden Reiss on Industrial Aquaculture

To the Editor,

As a marine harvester in the Midcoast and Downeast, part-time sternman, and an advocate for keeping our waters clean and open to everyone, I urge you to look at what is happening along the Maine coast.

We are selling our waters without doing any research about the impacts of industrial-scale aquaculture. The Department of Marine Resources (DMR) is granting leases for exclusive use in areas all along the coast. Those areas are getting bigger—pushing out other marine harvesters without proper oversight or scientific study regarding the impact on the wild harvest or the environment.

Video: Visiting an Industrial Aquaculture Discharge Site in Maine

Recently we wrote to you about the troubling news of farmed salmon fish die offs and the lack of transparency by the state regarding what happened.  

 Since Cooke is planning on renewing and expanding its facilities with a lumpfish facility in Downeast Maine, Protect Maine decided to check out what was happening at the discharge area of Cooke’s Machiasport plant, where they process fish and discharge into the water. The video we captured provides a glimpse into what the water feels like to two different people.

Did you know that people recently became ill from eating farmed Maine oysters?

On July 10, 2024, the Maine Center for Disease Control notified the Department of Marine Resources of an outbreak of campylobactor illness related to the consumption of raw oysters. According to the World Health Organization, “Campylobacter infections are generally mild, but can be fatal among very young children, elderly, and immuno-suppressed individuals.” (who.int/ news-room/fact-sheets/detail/campylobacter)

Deer Isle select board hears from consultant on aquaculture

DEER ISLE—On August 8, the Deer Isle select board heard from Bailey Bowden, a Penobscot resident and consultant for the Portland-based Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation (PMFHF).

Bowden said he wanted to present the board with information regarding aquaculture ordinances, and provided a draft ordinance created by PMFHF. Selectmen Ronald Eaton and Peter Perez were present.

Bowden said PMFHF believes that municipalities should have authority to implement aquaculture restrictions under “home rule,” in which Maine municipalities may govern themselves in any way that is not denied them by state or federal law. Maine has been considered a “home rule” state since November 1969, when an amendment to the state constitution granted broad “home rule” ordinance powers to municipalities.

What You Don't Know Can Make You Sick

Did you know that people recently became ill from eating farmed Maine oysters?

On July 10, 2024, the Maine Center for Disease Control notified the Department of Marine Resources of an outbreak of campylobactor illness related to the consumption of raw oysters. According to the World Health Organization, “Campylobacter infections are generally mild, but can be fatal among very young children, elderly, and immunosuppressed individuals.”