Environmental Group Threatens Lawsuit Against Cooke Aquaculture Over Clean Water Act Violations in Maine

Cooke Aquaculture Faces Lawsuit for Clean Water Act Violations in Maine

An environmental group has announced plans to sue Cooke Aquaculture, a large fish farming company, for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act in Maine. The Conservation Law Foundation claims that Cooke’s salmon farms are polluting the state’s bays, which are vital to the lobster fishing industry.

The Maine-based allegation states that Cooke discharges waste, including fish feces, dead fish, and trash, into coastal waters. Heather Govern, vice president of the foundation’s clean air and water program, described the large salmon cages as damaging to the marine environment. She stated that their waste harms aquatic plants and wildlife, and endangers wild salmon through disease outbreaks and sea lice.

Cooke Aquaculture denied these claims, asserting their compliance with environmental laws. The company noted that state regulators regularly inspect their farms and monitor their operations. Cooke stressed that the coexistence of finfish aquaculture and lobster fisheries in Maine has been sustainable for over 40 years without negative impacts on lobster landings.

Cooke, a major player in the global aquaculture industry, operates in 14 countries and is known as the largest private family-owned seafood company. Some environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club, have raised concerns about the sustainability of its operations.

Sebastian Belle, the executive director of the Maine Aquaculture Association, expressed surprise at the lawsuit intent, noting that the Conservation Law Foundation had previously collaborated with salmon farmers to establish environmental standards. He questioned the foundation’s decision to pursue legal action without prior discussion with the farmers, especially since these farmers seek to address environmental issues cooperatively.