New Law in US State of Maine Sets Density Limits for Future Salmon Farms | Oceana

Victory | June 23, 2023

New Law in US State of Maine Sets Density Limits for Future Salmon Farms

Following campaigning by Oceana and our allies, the U.S. state of Maine passed a law that establishes limits on stocking density for new marine salmon farms, making it harder for developers to build monster aquaculture operations in the state’s waters. This new law follows a proposal by Norwegian-based company American Aquafarms in 2021 to build an extremely large salmon farm in Frenchman Bay, just half a mile offshore of Acadia National Park. Stocking density — the amount of fish by weight packed into an area — is a key metric of salmon and other marine finfish aquaculture. Higher stocking densities are often associated with diminished fish health and water quality. Ocean-based fish farms are inherently risky as they often also use vast amounts of pesticides and chemicals to prevent disease and parasites, which can impact the surrounding marine ecosystems.