Opponents continue fight against Maine salmon farm

BELFAST, Maine (AP) - A large, land-based salmon farming operation in Maine has

obtained a key approval it needed to move forward, but opposition to the project remains.

Nordic Aquafarms wants to build a $500 million, 55-acre salmon farm in Belfast, in the middle of the state’s Atlantic coastline. The plant would be capable of producing about 70 million pounds of Atlantic salmon a year.

The company announced last week that is has received a U.S. Army Corp of Engineers permit, which is the final permit it needs.

However, local conservationists are still challenging the salmon farm in court. They have concerns about how the project would discharge wastewater. Environmentalists have also raised concerns about the size of the salmon farm and its other potential impacts on the community.

The company announced its plans in January 2018. The operation would rely on freshwater from the city and well water, piping its treated wastewater into Penobscot Bay.

Nordic Aquafarms spokesperson Marianne Naess said in a statement that the company is ready to move into the final stages of engineering and construction planning for the facility.

Nordic is based in Norway and operates similar operations in Europe.

Salmon farming is a large business in Norway, Scotland, Chile and British Columbia, with smaller industries in Washington state, California and Maine. Salmon farming is banned in Alaska.