Maine

An environmental group files intent to sue a salmon farmer for pollution off Maine's coast

Published

12 months ago

November 16, 2024

An environmental group files intent to sue a salmon farmer for pollution off Maine's coast

PORTLAND, Maine — An environmental organization has served a notice of intent to sue one of the world’s largest aquaculture companies for violations of the Clean Water Act in Maine — allegations the fish farmer ardently denies.

Conservation Law Foundation contends Cooke Aquaculture’s salmon farming sites off the Maine coast pollute the state’s bays, where lobster fishing is a key industry. The farms consist of pens in the ocean where Atlantic salmon are grown for use as food.

The Boston-based law foundation stated in its Thursday notice that it was suing Cooke in a Maine federal court to bring the company into compliance. It states that the company discharges pollutants such as fish feces, dead fish and trash into Maine’s coastal waters.

“These enormous salmon cages are like sewage pipes to the marine environment,” said Heather Govern, vice president for the foundation’s clean air and water program. “Their solid waste smothers plants and ocean life while disease outbreaks and sea lice threaten nearby endangered wild salmon.”

Cooke swiftly denied the allegations, and company representatives said the firm fully complies with the laws. The company, based in New Brunswick, Canada, issued a statement that said the farms are “routinely inspected by state regulators and subject to regular monitoring reports” to ensure compliance.

“Finfish aquaculture has coexisted with heritage fisheries, such as lobstering, in Maine waters for more than 40 years. Lobster landings are not negatively affected by Atlantic salmon farms,” the company said in a statement.

Cooke is a global giant in aquaculture and describes itself as the world’s largest private family-owned seafood company. It states on its website that it operates in 14 countries.

Some environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, have targeted Cooke over the years with concerns about the sustainability of its operations in Maine and elsewhere. Sebastian Belle, executive director of the Maine Aquaculture Association, said Saturday that the Conservation Law Foundation has worked with salmon farmers to develop environmental standards, and the notice of intent to sue was a surprise.

“Given the fact that CLF and the other groups associated with the proposed suit have not expressed any of their concerns to the farmers and that all of them stand to financially benefit, one has to wonder why farmers would ever work cooperatively with these groups to address their concerns,” Belle said.

Source link

Related Topics:115933610 animals article Business climate and environment Featured fish General news lawsuits philanthropy pollution salmon shellfish U.S. News®

Click to comment

Maine

These Maine high school soccer teams can’t escape each other in the playoffs

Published

11 hours ago

November 3, 2025

Press Room

These Maine high school soccer teams can’t escape each other in the playoffs

The Bangor High School and Camden Hills High School of Rockport girls soccer team simply can’t avoid each other in the Class A North playoffs.

For the third consecutive season and seventh in 10 years, the two teams will square off for the Class A North championship and a berth in the state championship game at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Cameron Stadium in Bangor.

Each team has won three of the regional title matchups so far, with Bangor earning a 3-2 win a year ago and a 2-1 victory two years ago. Bangor went on to win the state championship last fall with a come-from-behind 3-1 win over Scarborough.

They also met in the semifinals in 2022 with Camden Hills notching a 3-1 win.

The teams split during the regular season this year with each winning at home. Bangor triumphed 2-1 on Sept. 20 and Camden Hills avenged the loss with a 3-0 victory on Oct. 16.

“It’s going to be a battle,” said Bangor coach Jay Kemble. “It’s going to be a competitive game between two outstanding teams that have quality players who know how to play the game and compete.”

Windjammers coach Meredith Messer shared a similar sentiment.

“It’s going to be a typical Bangor-Camden game,” Messer said. “Both teams are going to have to work hard. It’ll be fairly aggressive and physical.

“My hope is that there will be goals scored. Both of us like to score goals. We’re offensive-minded. It should be fun,” Messer said.

Neither team has been tested so far in the playoffs with the 14-1-1 Rams beating Mt. Blue of Farmington 7-0 and Brunswick 6-0. The 15-1 Camden Hills squad dispatched Messalonskee of Oakland 8-0 and Mt. Ararat of Topsham 6-0.

Camden Hills has scored 93 goals and given up 11 in its 16 games while Bangor has scored 84 and surrendered 8.

Both teams have dynamic, game-changing sophomores who are leading them in goals.

Camden Hills’ Molly Williams has scored 39 goals including eight in the playoffs while Bangor’s Georgie Stephenson has scored 34 goals.

Center midfielder Williams also has 16 assists and striker Stephenson has 10.

Class A North Player of the Year Clara Oldenburg from Bangor has 25 goals and 26 assists from her attacking midfield position. Messer said sophomore Eve Domareki is Camden Hills’ second-leading scorer with over 20 goals and her freshman sister, Liv, is the third-leading scorer.

Kemble said he has received important goals from Gabby Roy and Gabby Gordon in recent games.

Both teams are also solid in the back with Avery Clark, Sophia Chase and Jo Jo Clukey supplying the Rams with a lot of experience while Camden Hills’ back line features Lucy Ward and Maia Andrews.

Junior Emily Caulkins will start in goal for Bangor with freshman Eliza Gallant in goal for Camden Hills.

There is a lot of mutual respect between the two teams and coaches.

“Camden Hills has a centerpiece with Molly Williams. They have other kids in the middle that surround her. Defensively, they’re a lot like us. They play with four backs that rotate. They can get both (wingbacks) up-field and they have center backs who are strong and athletic. We are a lot alike in terms of skillset and style of play. Whoever makes the fewest errors is probably going to win,” said Kemble.

“Bangor is a really smart team and a great passing team,” said Messer. “They hold their space incredibly well and they are strong. When you look at them, they are physically stronger than most of the other teams. That gives them an advantage with speed and with holding the ball.

“And Georgie is a scorer and any time you have a team that has a legitimate scorer, that’s always tougher to stop. Kids who love to score find a way to score,” Messer added.

Source link

Maine

Maine Women’s Hockey Battles To A Tie With Providence In A Thrilling Match

Published

1 day ago

November 2, 2025

Press Room

Maine Women’s Hockey Battles To A Tie With Providence In A Thrilling Match

The Maine Women’s Hockey Team skated to a 1-1 tie with the Providence Friars on Saturday afternoon, November 1st. Providence won the shootout to win the extra point in Hockey East.

After a scoreless tie, Providence scored their goal with :32 seconds gone.

Maine answered 34 seconds later, when Frederikke Foss scored, assisted by Ali Altiman and Danielle Brunette.

Maine was 0-5 on the power play, while Providence was 1-1.

Maine outshot Providence 31-23.

Kiia Lahtinen turned away 22 shots in goal for Maine.

Providence is 3-6-1 overall and 1-2-1 in Hockey East. Maine is 2-6-1 overall and 0-1-1 in Hockey East.

The Black Bears return to the Alfond this coming weekend, with a series against Boston University. The puck drops on Friday November 7th at 3 p.m. and on Saturday, November 8th at 3:30 p.m.

Source link

Maine

Women’s Hockey Skates To 1-1 Tie Against Maine – Providence College Athletics

Published

2 days ago

November 2, 2025

Press Room

Women’s Hockey Skates To 1-1 Tie Against Maine – Providence College Athletics

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College women’s hockey team skated to a 1-1 tie against the University of Maine on Saturday, Nov. 1 at Schneider Arena. The Friars are now 3-6-1 overall and 1-2-1 in Hockey East play, while the Black Bears move to 2-6-1 and 0-1-1. Senior Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) scored the lone goal for Providence, her eighth of the season.

SCORE
Providence – 1 | Maine – 1

RECORDS
Providence – 3-6-1 (1-2-1 HEAW) | Maine – 2-6-1 (0-1-1 HEAW)

VENUE
Schneider Arena | Providence, R.I.

GAME FLOW & NOTES

-The teams skated scoreless through the first period, with Maine holding an 11-4 edge in shots on goal. The Friars successfully killed off three penalties, including a five-on-three for 19 seconds.

-Providence opened the scoring on the power play to start the second period. Senior Reichen Kirchmair (Oakville, Ontario) found the back of the net, assisted by junior Audrey Knapp (Stevens Point, Wis.) and senior Cristina Cavaliere (Mississauga, Ontario). It marked Kirchmair’s team-leading eighth goal of the season.

-Maine tied the game just 34 seconds later on a goal from Frederikke Foss, assisted by Ali Altiman and Danielle Brunette.

-The teams played a scoreless third period to send the game to overtime, marking the Friars’ third overtime contest in their last four games.

-Neither team scored in overtime, resulting in a 1-1 tie. It was Providence’s first tie since Nov. 16, 2024, against Vermont.

-In the shootout, graduate student goaltender Hope Walinski (Lincoln, R.I.) stopped two shots, while Knapp and sophomore Jessie Pellerin (Bowmanville, Ontario) each scored to give Providence the extra point.

-Walinski finished with 30 saves in net for the Friars.

STAT COMPARISON

Providence – 1

Shots: 26

Face-offs: 27/45

Power plays: 1/1

Penalty Kill: 5/5

Maine – 1

Shots: 33

Face-offs: 18/45

Power plays: 0/5

Penalty Kill: 0/1

PC GAME HIGHS

Shots on Goal: Davies (5)

Blocks: Clarke (3)

Goals: Kirchmair (1)

Assists: Cavaliere, Knapp (1)

Points: Cavaliere, Kirchmair, Knapp (1)

UP NEXT

The Friars return to action next weekend with a home-and-home series against the University of New Hampshire in Hockey East play. Providence will travel to Durham, N.H. on Friday, Nov. 7 at 6:00 p.m. before hosting the Wildcats on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 2:00 p.m. at Schneider Arena.