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The CEO of New Brunswick-based Cooke Seafood is apologizing following a hidden-camera exposé of what the fish farming giant admits were "unacceptable" incidents at its salmon hatchery in Bingham, Maine.
The 4:41-minute video released Monday by Washington, D.C.-based animal rights organization Compassion Over Killing shows salmon being smashed against posts, stomped on and discarded. It also shows what the group says are deformed and diseased salmon at the hatchery.
The hatchery is part of Cooke's global salmon farming empire, which includes facilities and offices on four continents. Cooke bills itself as the world's largest privately held family-owned seafood company, employs around 9,000 people and has ambitious expansion plans.
"I am disappointed and deeply saddened by what I saw today," company CEO Glenn Cooke said in a statement released Monday. |
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Compassion Over Killing bills the video as an inside look at the "cruel and unnatural world of salmon aquaculture." The video was shot by one of the group's members who worked at the facility from January to April 2019.
The video claims fish are suffering from fungal infections and spinal deformities at the hatchery and are improperly anesthetized prior to being vaccinated.
Workers, their faces blurred, also provide commentary. One, holding a damaged salmon, says: "Fungus ate away his face."
The group complained to the State of Maine about conditions at the hatchery. The state's Department of Agriculture confirmed Monday it is investigating a complaint related to activities at the facility.
"Based on information received from the department, and after reviewing the footage issued today by the activist veganism organization, it appears that unacceptable fish handling incidents have occurred at the Bingham hatchery," Cooke said in his statement.
Cooke said in a statement he only saw the video upon its release.
"I am very sorry that this has happened," he said. "We are thoroughly reviewing the footage and we are working closely with the Maine Department of Agriculture to review and ensure all our practices are within compliance. We are speaking with all our employees, and we will institute a rigorous re-training program at our Maine facility." |
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