Cooke Aquaculture is one of the largest salmon farming companies in North America

Cooke Aquaculture is a privately held company that raises Atlantic salmon in net pens across Canada, the United States, and Chile. The company operates hundreds of farm sites and produces roughly one-fifth of the farmed Atlantic salmon sold in North America. It is owned by the Cooke family and headquartered in Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick.

The company's scale matters because Cooke's operations shape local economies, environmental policy, and the supply of farmed salmon available to consumers. Understanding what Cooke does — and where it operates — helps explain why aquaculture regulation varies so much by region and why some communities have strong opinions about salmon farming.

Key Takeaways

  • Cooke Aquaculture raises Atlantic salmon in net pens in Canada (primarily British Columbia and the Maritimes), the United States (Maine and Washington), and Chile, making it one of North America's largest salmon producers.
  • The company sells farmed salmon to retailers, restaurants, and food processors under brand names including Cooke Aquaculture, Skuna Bay, and Orca Bay, though much of its product is sold under retailer labels.
  • Cooke's operations have faced environmental scrutiny over sea lice, escaped fish, and impacts on wild salmon populations, leading to different regulatory frameworks in each jurisdiction where it operates.
  • The company employs thousands of workers across its farms, processing plants, and support operations, making it a significant employer in rural coastal regions.

Where Cooke Aquaculture operates and what it produces

Cooke runs farms in four main regions. In British Columbia, the company operates dozens of sites in the Discovery Islands, Broughton Strait, and other coastal areas — this is Cooke's largest concentration of farms. In the Canadian Maritimes, Cooke operates farms in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. In the United States, Cooke owns and operates farms in Maine and Washington State. The company also owns farms in Chile, primarily in the Los Lagos region.

All of these farms raise Atlantic salmon in open net pens — large enclosures anchored in the ocean where thousands of fish are confined. The salmon are fed pellets, grow for roughly two to three years, and are then harvested. Cooke sells whole fish to processing plants (some owned by Cooke, some independent), which then sell fillets and other products to grocery stores, restaurants, and food service companies under various brand names.

Cooke also owns hatcheries that produce juvenile salmon for its farms, and it operates feed mills that manufacture pellets for its operations. This vertical integration — owning the hatcheries, farms, and some processing — means Cooke controls much of the supply chain from egg to retail product.

How Cooke's regulatory environment differs by location

Cooke operates under different rules in each jurisdiction, and these differences reflect local environmental concerns and political pressure. British Columbia regulates salmon farms through provincial permits and federal fisheries law, but the regulatory framework has been contentious. Environmental groups and Indigenous nations have raised concerns about sea lice (parasites that can spread to wild salmon), escaped farmed fish, and impacts on wild salmon migration routes. In 2020, the federal government announced plans to transition BC farms away from open net pens, though implementation has been slow.

In the Maritimes, Cooke operates under provincial aquaculture licenses issued by New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and PEI. These provinces have generally been more permissive of aquaculture expansion than BC, though environmental concerns exist there too. Maine regulates Cooke's farms through state permits and has stricter rules than some other regions, including requirements for escape prevention and monitoring. Chile has its own regulatory system, which has historically been less stringent than North American rules, though this has tightened in recent years.

These differences mean that the same company faces different environmental standards, reporting requirements, and public scrutiny depending on where its farms are located. A farm site in BC may face more intensive monitoring than an equivalent site in the Maritimes.

Environmental concerns and controversies surrounding Cooke's operations

Cooke's farms have been the focus of environmental and Indigenous opposition, particularly in British Columbia. The main concerns are: sea lice infestations that can spread to wild salmon stocks, escaped farmed fish that may interbreed with or outcompete wild populations, disease transmission from farms to wild fish, and impacts on marine ecosystems from feed waste and other farm discharge.

Sea lice are small parasites that naturally occur in ocean environments but can reach high densities in farm net pens. When lice numbers spike, they can drift in ocean currents and attach to wild salmon smolts migrating to sea. This is particularly concerning in BC, where wild salmon populations are already stressed. Cooke and other salmon farmers use various methods to control lice, including mechanical removal, chemical treatments, and selective breeding for lice resistance, but environmental groups argue these measures are insufficient.

Escaped farmed salmon are another recurring issue. Net pens can fail due to storms, equipment malfunction, or predator damage, releasing thousands of farmed fish into the ocean. Cooke has experienced multiple escape incidents over the years. Farmed salmon that escape may carry diseases, compete with wild fish for food and habitat, or interbreed with wild populations, potentially weakening wild genetic lines.

These concerns have led to lawsuits, regulatory investigations, and political pressure. In some cases, Cooke has paid fines or been required to improve containment systems. The company maintains that it operates responsibly and that its farms provide economic benefits that outweigh environmental costs, but this remains contested in many communities.

Cooke's brand names and how to identify its products

Cooke Aquaculture sells salmon under several brand names. Skuna Bay is a premium brand sold in higher-end retailers. Orca Bay is another Cooke brand. Cooke Aquaculture itself is used on some products. However, much of Cooke's production is sold to retailers and food service companies that repackage it under their own private labels — so a salmon fillet labeled "Safeway Farms" or "Whole Foods" may actually come from Cooke.

If you want to know whether a farmed salmon product comes from Cooke, you can check the package label for the producer or distributor name, or contact the retailer directly. Some retailers disclose the source of their farmed salmon; others do not. Cooke's website lists its brands and some of its retail partners, though the list is not exhaustive.

Employment and economic impact of Cooke's operations

Cooke is a major employer in rural coastal regions where it operates. The company employs workers at farm sites (for feeding, health monitoring, harvesting, and maintenance), at hatcheries, at processing plants, and in administrative and support roles. Exact employment numbers vary by year and region, but Cooke employs thousands of people across North America and Chile.

In regions like rural BC, the Maritimes, and coastal Maine, Cooke's operations represent significant economic activity. The company purchases supplies locally, pays property taxes, and supports related industries like feed manufacturing and equipment supply. This economic contribution is often cited by Cooke and by local governments as a reason to support or expand aquaculture. However, communities that prioritize wild salmon conservation or that have experienced environmental problems from Cooke's farms view the economic benefit as insufficient to justify the environmental cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if the salmon I'm buying comes from Cooke Aquaculture?

Check the package label for the producer or distributor name. Cooke-owned brands include Skuna Bay, Orca Bay, and Cooke Aquaculture. However, much Cooke salmon is sold under retailer private labels. If the label does not name the producer, you can contact the retailer or call Cooke's customer service line to ask about the source of their farmed salmon.

What is the difference between Cooke's farms in BC and its farms in the Maritimes?

BC farms face stricter environmental regulations and more public scrutiny, particularly around sea lice and escaped fish. Maritime farms operate under more permissive provincial rules. Both regions have environmental concerns, but BC's regulatory framework is currently more restrictive, and the federal government has announced plans to phase out open net pens in BC by 2025.

Has Cooke Aquaculture had escape incidents?

Yes. Cooke has experienced multiple escape incidents over the years, including a significant escape in BC in 2017 and others in Maine and the Maritimes. These incidents have resulted in fines, regulatory investigations, and requirements to improve containment systems. The company maintains that escapes are rare and that it takes prevention seriously.

Does Cooke Aquaculture use antibiotics in its farms?

Cooke uses antibiotics in some of its farms to treat bacterial infections, though the extent and type vary by location and regulatory requirements. BC and US regulations restrict antibiotic use more than some other regions. Cooke publishes some data on antibiotic use, but environmental groups argue for greater transparency and stricter limits.

Where can I find information about Cooke's environmental practices?

Cooke publishes sustainability reports and environmental data on its website. Environmental organizations, Indigenous nations, and government agencies in BC, the Maritimes, Maine, and Chile also publish reports and data on Cooke's operations. These sources often present different perspectives on the company's environmental performance.