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Salmon Federation Urges Moratorium on Newfoundland Aquaculture Over Coastal Pollution

A July report uses AI-enhanced satellite imagery to detect abandoned gear at six south coast sites, prompting calls for better waste controls.

Image
Degraded and broken sea cages and old salmon farming equipment tied together and anchored at The Locker near Gaultois, N.L., on June 23, 2025, as shown in this handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - Atlantic Salmon Federation - Andrew Clarke (Mandatory Credit)

Overview

  • The Atlantic Salmon Federation has called on the federal Fisheries Minister to suspend new aquaculture leases in Newfoundland and Labrador until companies enforce proper waste management.
  • In its July 8 summary, the federation flagged six south coast sites where satellite imagery indicated discarded cages, ropes and other debris.
  • Researchers collaborated with Planetixx and Maxar to analyze more than 60,000 satellite images using AI, revealing abandoned infrastructure and that half of 106 licensed sites were unused between 2020 and 2025.
  • Field inspections at The Locker cove near Gaultois captured recurring debris including barrels, nets and bags, and identified a sea cage deliberately sunk to the seabed.
  • The Newfoundland Aquaculture Industry Association says provincial leases allow temporary storage of unused equipment offshore and that cleanup and recycling plans are already under way.