Saving Seafood

MAINE: Nordic Aquafarms files complaint challenging Maine city council’s eminent domain decision

June 2, 2024 — Nordic Aquafarms has filed a complaint in Waldo County Superior Court seeking to reverse a Belfast City Council decision that closed its eminent domain bid to secure land needed for its planned recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility in Belfast, Maine, U.S.A.

The Belfast council originally voted on 7 May to vacate the company’s condemnation order that would have seen the city use eminent domain to give Nordic access to a key piece of intertidal land. That land was subject to a lawsuit launched by Jeffrey R. Mabee and Judith B. Grace, which included the Maine Supreme Judicial Court finding that Nordic Aquafarms did not have sufficient right, title, or interest to the land.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

MAINE: State suspends Nordic Aquafarms’ permits for Maine-based RAS

June 23, 2023 — The U.S. state of Maine suspended two permits essential to Nordic Aquafarms’ planned salmon recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) facility in Belfast, Maine, U.S.A.

The Maine Department of Environmental Protection, in a decision announced on 21 June, suspended both the Site Location of Development Law and Natural Resources Protection Act Permit and its Air Emissions License for the facility, the Republican Journal reported.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

Nordic Aquafarms loses court battle over land crucial to its Maine RAS plans

February 16, 2023 — Nordic Aquafarms, which has plans to build a large land-based recirculating aquaculture system salmon farm in Belfast, Maine, U.S.A., has lost its fight over rights to intertidal land the company planned to use to site its inflow and outflow pipes.

In a 16 February ruling, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court found the plaintiffs in the case – Jeffrey R. Mabee and Judith B. Grace – were correct in their original assertion they are the owners of the intertidal land.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

MAINE: Dutch company chooses Down East town as home for its multimillion-dollar fish farm

November 21, 2019 — A Dutch company has reportedly selected the Washington County town of Jonesport for a multimillion-dollar, land-based aquaculture facility to grow yellowtail, a type of fish beloved by chefs and sushi aficionados.

Kingfish Zeeland settled on the historic fishing community roughly 20 miles from Machias after exploring other potential sites along the Maine coast, according to reports in local and seafood industry media. Kingfish Zeeland’s envisioned yellowtail facility is at least the fourth major land-based aquaculture operation proposed in recent years in Maine, which is experiencing a surge in “farming” for fish, shellfish and other marine products.

Company representatives were expected to discuss their plans Wednesday night during a special town meeting in Jonesport. The company did not respond to a request for additional information Wednesday, and a member of the Jonesport Board of Selectmen said town officials are waiting for Wednesday’s meeting before commenting.

“We are anxious to hear their presentation,” Selectman William Milliken said.

Read the full story at The Portland Press Herald