Maine’s pristine coastal waters have long supported local communities, from fishermen and lobstermen to tourism-driven businesses reliant on healthy ecosystems. But a growing threat lurks beneath the surface in the form of industrial-scale salmon farming, which promises cheaper, mass-produced fish but carries serious environmental risks.

Salmon farming, particularly the industrial operations led by companies like Cooke Aquaculture, involves raising large quantities of fish in crowded net pens anchored in open water. In Maine, Cooke grows over one million salmon in these floating cages, which are spread across 13 active sites in the state.

The most obvious environmental risk posed by salmon farms is that the pollution they generate—fish feces, uneaten food, and dead fish—piles up at the bottom of the cages. Thick layers of toxic sludge smother the ocean floor and kill food sources for lobsters and bottom-dwelling fish. For Maine's lobstermen who depend on clean water and a healthy ecosystem to make their living, this is a devastating blow.

Disease-prone conditions inside salmon pens lead to the rapid spread of parasites like sea lice. Holes that can develop in the cages allow farmed salmon to escape. Both issues have consequences for the wild fish populations, including the already-endangered wild Atlantic salmon.

Despite these risks, the salmon farming industry in Maine remains largely unregulated, with insufficient oversight from state and federal agencies. 

This is why Conservation Law Foundation filed a notice of intent to sue Cooke Aquaculture for violations of the Clean Water Act at its Maine operations.

To be clear, CLF is holding a multinational corporation accountable and defending Maine’s right to a clean, healthy environment, not trying to shutter a business. In fact, to comply with the law, Cooke will need to hire more employees to increase its monitoring and inspections, properly maintain and clean its equipment, and mitigate the impact on the environment. 

But as it stands, these enormous salmon cages are like sewage pipes to the marine environment. It’s time to adequately protect Maine’s waters and stop allowing this harmful practice to continue unchecked.

Heather Govern is Vice President of Clean Air and Water, Conservation Law Foundation