Emails show environmental officials not notified for 11 days; State agencies slow to respond
PORTLAND, Maine – A massive die-off of farm raised salmon, in pens off Black Island in late August, has prompted a series of questions to state regulators, from groups concerned about the impact of industrial-scale aquaculture on coastal Maine waters. Black Island is a few miles south of Bass Harbor on Mount Desert Island.
Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation (PMFHF), along with other members of Frenchman Bay United, a coalition opposing plans for a massive industrial salmon farm in Frenchman Bay near Acadia National Park, recently sent a letter to Department of Marine Resources (DMR) Commissioner Patrick Keliher with a list of questions that the groups believe need answers, given the severity and magnitude of the fish die-off. (DMR Letter.)
The Black Island pens are owned by Cooke Aquaculture, the largest holder of industrial-scale fish farming leases in the state, with over 600 acres. Over the years, the company has been cited and paid millions of dollars in fines for numerous violations in Washington state, Maine, and New Brunswick.
PMFHF Executive Director Crystal Canney said: “Emails obtained as part of a Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) request indicate Cooke Aquaculture knew as early as August 16th that the die-off occurred. The Department of Environmental Protection wasn’t notified until August 27th according to the emails, 11 days after Cooke employees saw dead fish in the water.”
As was noted in an email from a DEP staffer Mike Loughlin to Cooke, “Having maybe 100,000 fish die off overnight is a pretty serious event, environmentally speaking.”
Protect Maine has also filed a FOAA request with DMR about when the department first learned of the die-off.
“Among some of the more serious questions are what caused this, how did state agencies respond (or not respond), and what are the impacts on waters around the pens? Maine people, especially local fishermen and those who live and work in this area deserve an answer,” Canney said.
The emails also show that DEP officials were skeptical of Cooke’s claims that the die-off was caused by low dissolved oxygen levels, but DEP staff did not go to the pens until four days after the fish were removed and taken to a composting facility on Mount Desert Island. (see attached pictures)
Emails between DEP staff members indicate concerns about possible other causes:
Clarissa Trasko, DEP – (Friday, August 27 11:18AM) – “What does Jennifer [Cooke representative] report as the reason for the mortalities? 7-8 PPM of oxygen should not have been a problem.
Mike Loughlin, DEP (Friday, August 27 11:21AM) – “Sorry. She [Cooke rep] believes the cause was low DO (dissolved oxygen) in the pens.
Clarissa Trasko, DEP – (Friday, August 27 1:58PM) – I don’t buy it but have not proof otherwise, seems like 7-8 mg/L of Do should be sufficient.
Frenchman Bay United, an umbrella organization of five different groups opposing plans by American Aquafarms to put 30 salmon pens in Frenchman Bay, says the die-off is just another example of how industrial-scale in-water fish farms threaten the environmental and economic health of coastal areas.
“At a time when foreign investors are trying to get approval to put one of the world’s largest in-water salmon farms in the pristine waters right next to Acadia National Park, this die-off raises many serious questions about the threats posed by these industrial-scale farms and the state’s ability to regulate and monitor them,” said Ted O’Meara, a Frenchman Bay United board member.
Canney added: “This incident and the slow response brings into question the state’s relationship with industrial-scale aquaculture. Lobstermen and women have testified at hearings that dead lobsters have been found near Cooke pens in Jonesport, and the company has been operating without an updated discharge permit. At every turn, industrial-scale aquaculture is given the benefit of the doubt, whereas lobstermen and fishermen have their feet held to the fire. We need evidence that Maine’s oversight agencies are putting the health of our waters first, and not turning a blind eye to industrial-scale aquaculture damaging our oceans. This is why the answers to our questions about this die-off are so important.”
DEP FOAA documents are available here: https://www.protectmaine.com/pmfhf-news/foaadocs
Contact:
Crystal Canney
Protect Maine’s Fishing Heritage Foundation
207-615-5968
protectmaine@gmail.com
Ted O’Meara
Save the Bay
207-653-2392
ted@tedomearacommunications.com