Cooke Seafood: A Troubled Giant
Public Information Brief 2025: Exploring the controversies surrounding the world's largest private seafood company. https://www.noff.au/cooke-fact-check/
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Company Overview
Global Presence
Cooke Seafood, owner of Cooke Aquaculture, is a transnational seafood giant with billions in revenue and operations in at least 14 countries as of 2025.
Public Image
PR materials from their Saint John, New Brunswick headquarters project a family-friendly image with hand-written fonts and the slogan "We deliver the very best, from our family to yours".
Underlying Issues
Despite the friendly facade, Cooke Seafood's global operations are associated with a troubling history of lawsuits, scandal, and controversy.
Environmental Scandals

1

Cypermethrin Scandal (2009–2010)
Cooke Aquaculture was implicated in the illegal use of cypermethrin, a pesticide not authorized in Canada, resulting in over 1,000 lobster deaths in the Bay of Fundy. Charges were filed against three senior officials, including CEO Glenn Cooke, under the Canadian Fisheries Act. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/aquaculture-company-on-the-hook-for-500k-for-pesticide-use-1.1317105

2

Mass Release in Washington State (2017)
A structural failure at Cooke's facility near Cypress Island led to the release of 243,000–263,000 non-native Atlantic salmon into Puget Sound. Investigations attributed the collapse to negligence, including poor maintenance and biofouling of nets. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/washingon-state-end-1.6652547​

3

Mass Die-Off in Newfoundland (2019)
Approximately 2.6 million salmon died at Cooke's subsidiary, Northern Harvest Sea Farms, due to prolonged high water temperatures and reduced oxygen levels, raising questions about the industry's ability to manage environmental risks associated with climate change. https://globalnews.ca/news/6025471/nl-company-salmon-deaths/
Regulatory Challenges
1
Washington State Lease Termination (2022)
Washington State's DNR leveed a $332,000 fine and refused to renew Cooke's remaining leases for finfish net pen aquaculture, effectively ending its operations on state-owned aquatic lands. https://www.dnr.wa.gov/news/board-natural-resources-ends-open-sea-net-pen-salmon-farms-washington-waters
2
Maine Lawsuit (2024)
The Conservation Law Foundation filed a notice of intent to sue Cooke Aquaculture for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act, including discharging pollutants like fish feces, dead fish, and trash into Maine's coastal waters. https://www.clf.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/CLF-v.-Cooke-Notice-Letter.pdf
3
Chile Controversy (2024)
Cooke Aquaculture faced suspension of operations at its "Huillines 3" salmon farming center in Laguna San Rafael National Park for operating without proper environmental evaluations and exceeding authorized production limits by 6,300 percent. https://www.salmonbusiness.com/maximum-reached-cooke-chile-ordered-to-halt-farming-in-national-park/
Parasites and Disease Concerns

Scottish Salmon Mortality
Data from the Scottish Fish Health Inspectorate show nearly 15 million salmon mortalities reported by farms in Scotland from January to November 2022, compared with 8.58 million in all of 2021 and 5.81 million in 2020. Diseases include gill pox virus, lice infestation and head and skeletal inflammation. https://geographical.co.uk/wildlife/salmon-farm-threat-in-scotland

Mass Escape in Scotland
Escape of 80,000 artificially-raised salmon from Cooke Aquaculture Scotland in February 2023 due to human error. Increased scrutiny has provided disturbing underwater images of diseased salmon. https://theweek.com/culture-life/food-drink/the-dark-side-of-salmon-farming

Salmon Lice Outbreaks
Cooke Seafood company uses boats capable of pumping 10,000 fish at a time into a hydrogen peroxide bath, which kills most of the lice, although it also can stress and kill some fish. https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/article/any-lice-with-that-salmon-parasite-plagues-global-industry/
Transparency and Accountability Issues
Misleading U.S. Authorities
A recent lawsuit alleges that Cooke Seafood knowingly misled U.S. authorities about its foreign ownership by "falsely certifying compliance" and creating a shell company. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/cooke-us-lawsuit-foreign-ownership-fraud-menhaden-chesapeake-bay-1.7283112
"Sustainability" Claims Challenged
In July 2021, a lawsuit challenged Cooke Aquaculture's claims that their salmon products are "sustainably farmed." A judge denied several motions to dismiss the lawsuit, allowing the case to proceed. https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/environmental_health/pdfs/Dkt-50_Order-denying-MtD.pdf
Underreporting of Fish Escapes
Investigators found as many as 263,000 of the farm's artificially-raised non-native fish escaped in Washington State, not the 160,000 Cooke told the public. Months after the spill, more than 200,000 of these fish were still reportedly unaccounted for. https://thenarwhal.ca/fish-farm-lowballed-number-escaped-atlantic-salmon-misled-regulator-report/
Global Impact
Canada
Cooke's operations in Canada have faced scrutiny over illegal pesticide use and mass die-offs of salmon, raising concerns about environmental impact and regulatory compliance.
United States
In the U.S., Cooke has faced lease terminations, lawsuits over Clean Water Act violations, and controversies surrounding non-native species releases in Washington State.
Chile
Cooke's operations in Chile have been suspended due to environmental violations, including exceeding production limits by 6,300 percent in a national park.
Scotland
In Scotland, Cooke has faced issues with salmon mortalities, disease outbreaks, and accidental releases, highlighting challenges in managing large-scale aquaculture operations.
Environmental Impact

1

2

3

4

1

Ecosystem Disruption
Release of non-native species and pesticides

2

Water Pollution
Discharge of fish waste and chemicals

3

Disease Spread
Parasites and viruses affecting wild populations

4

Habitat Alteration
Changes to local marine environments
Cooke Seafood's operations have been associated with various environmental impacts across their global operations, raising concerns about the sustainability of their practices and their effects on local ecosystems.
Regulatory Response

1

2010
Charges filed against Cooke officials under Canadian Fisheries Act for illegal pesticide use.

2

2017
Washington State investigates Cooke for negligence following mass fish escape.

3

2022
Washington State DNR terminates Cooke's leases and issues $332,000 fine.

4

2024
Chilean authorities suspend Cooke's operations in Laguna San Rafael National Park.
Public Perception and Legal Challenges
Sustainability Claims
A 2021 lawsuit challenged Cooke Aquaculture's claims of "sustainably farmed" salmon, highlighting the growing scrutiny of the company's environmental practices.
Clean Water Act Violations
The Conservation Law Foundation's 2024 lawsuit alleges violations of the Clean Water Act, accusing Cooke of discharging pollutants into Maine's coastal waters.
Transparency Issues
Recent allegations of misleading U.S. authorities about foreign ownership have further damaged public trust in the company's transparency and accountability.
Industry Impact
Largest Private Seafood Company
Cooke Seafood has become the largest privately-owned seafood company in the world, with significant influence on global aquaculture practices.
Regulatory Scrutiny
The company's controversies have led to increased regulatory attention on the aquaculture industry as a whole.
Sustainability Debate
Cooke's practices have fueled ongoing debates about the sustainability and environmental impact of large-scale aquaculture operations.
Conclusion

Global Reach, Local Impact
As the largest private seafood company in the world, Cooke Seafood's operations have far-reaching consequences for local communities, ecosystems, and the global aquaculture industry.

Ongoing Concerns
The company's history of environmental violations, regulatory challenges, and operational controversies in Canada, the United States, Latin America, and Scotland continues to raise significant concerns.

Need for Awareness
Local communities, public interest groups, and policymakers must remain vigilant and informed about the company's practices and their potential impacts on the environment and local economies.