The Maine Department of Marine Resources has terminated the application from American Aquafarm, a Norwegian-owned enterprise, to build two installations to raise salmon in Frenchman Bay in the state.  Since it was proposed, local residents, fishermen and conservationists have opposed the project, presenting evidence of negative environmental impacts, reduced tourism and pollution that would be deleterious to marine life within the Acadia National Park.

The justification for the denial was based on the fact that the company concerned was unable to identify a suitable source of salmon eggs for the project.  In effect, the decision was obviously influenced by the strength of opposition and the evidence presented. Although the weight of opposition, going beyond ‘NIMBY’ was a deciding factor in the denial, the Commissioner of the Department of Marine Resources stated, “While I am aware those issues existed, at the end of the day, the decision was strictly around the egg source and whether or not it was appropriate to be putting the project into the marine environment.”

Henry Sharpe, President of the Frenchman Bay United Board that opposed the project, stated, “This was a wake-up call.  It’s time to get to work to make sure it can never happen again.” Given the grounds for the denial of a permit, if the promoters establish a source for eggs the Department of Marine Resources would be hard pressed to establish a further justification to deny the project.