The Norwegian company behind the ambitious $500 million salmon farming project in Belfast, Maine, has officially announced the abandonment of the plan due to ongoing legal challenges. Nordic Aquafarms, which had intended to build one of the largest land-based salmon farms in the world, confirmed the decision on January 13, 2025.
A $500 Million Plan with Legal Hurdles
The project, initially proposed in 2018, aimed to farm 66 million pounds of salmon annually on a 40-acre site located beside the Little River in Belfast. While the company promised job creation and economic growth for the area, the proposal faced strong opposition from environmental groups and local residents. They raised concerns over potential pollution in Penobscot Bay, strain on local infrastructure, and the destruction of important wetlands and forested land.
Despite receiving necessary permits, Nordic Aquafarms’ plans were repeatedly stalled by legal obstacles. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court issued two rulings in 2023 that slowed progress. Furthermore, the Belfast City Council, which had initially supported the project, seized a parcel of land through eminent domain to facilitate the construction. However, after losing a legal challenge to the land seizure, the council reversed its decision. The company later sued the city for the reversal in May 2024.
The Decision to Abandon the Project
Faced with mounting legal challenges, Nordic Aquafarms announced the decision to abandon the project. The company’s CEO, Brenda Chandler, expressed disappointment over the loss of a project that promised significant economic benefits for the region.
“This is a sad day for Maine’s economy and outlook for aquaculture or any significant investment in the state,” Chandler said. “While a few may view this as a victory, we argue that this is a significant loss overall, not just for Nordic Aquafarms but for the community. The expanded tax base for the city of Belfast was significant; new jobs for the area were significant; and Maine’s leadership in aquaculture-born solutions also significant.”
Local Environmental Groups Celebrate
On the other hand, environmental groups that fought the project for years celebrated the news. Jillian Howell, executive director of Upstream Watch, expressed satisfaction with the outcome, calling it a win for the local community and environment.
“This has been a long, hard fight for us and others against Nordic and what we feel like was a pretty fatally flawed project from the start,” Howell said, highlighting concerns over the potential environmental damage to Penobscot Bay. She referred to the February 2023 court ruling, which determined the company did not have access to a key piece of intertidal land, as a major turning point in the opposition’s efforts.
Howell emphasized that the project’s abandonment was a victory for Belfast and its residents, many of whom opposed the project on the grounds of environmental preservation. “This is not a loss for Belfast. This is not a loss for our community,” Howell said. “This is a win for the people who love this river and who want to see it protected.”
Conclusion
Nordic Aquafarms’ decision to abandon its $500 million land-based salmon farm project marks the end of a contentious chapter in Belfast’s history. Despite the company’s assertions that the project would have brought economic benefits, local residents and environmental groups have secured a significant victory in their fight to protect Maine’s natural resources.
