Mainers Fight to Protect Wild Salmon From Fish Farms

Residents in Maine are pressing regulators to prevent Cooke Aquaculture from renewing salmon aquaculture leases, arguing that open-net pens could threaten wild Atlantic salmon and local livelihoods. The Downeast Salmon Federation’s executive director, Dwayne Shaw, said wild Atlantic salmon have remained at critically low levels since declines driven by dams, pollution and overfishing in the mid-20th century. Shaw worries that salmon raised in coastal cages could jeopardize Maine’s endangered recovery efforts. Cooke, which acquired Maine’s salmon farming operations in 2004 and became the state’s sole commercial producer, holds 23 active leases, with nine up for renewal. Critics cite alleged violations and limited enforcement capacity. Cooke says it employs 230 people and supports economic activity in Downeast Maine.