TL;DR
Animal Outlook’s recent investigation found sustained cruelty at Cooke Aquaculture’s Maine hatchery, seven years after an earlier exposé. The company promised reforms after the first investigation, but conditions remain inhumane.
A second undercover investigation by Animal Outlook has uncovered persistent animal welfare violations at Cooke Aquaculture’s Maine salmon hatchery, seven years after an initial exposé. The findings cast doubt on the company’s commitment to reform, highlighting ongoing cruelty despite prior promises.
In late 2025, Animal Outlook’s covert investigator documented numerous instances of fish being beaten, suffocated, or mishandled improperly at Cooke’s hatchery. The investigation recorded 133 instances of improper killing, including beating fish with metal rods, dropping live fish into buckets to suffocate, and cutting into still-beating fish. The report also identified poor water quality, fungal infections, deformities, and unexplained mass mortalities.
Cooke Aquaculture, the world’s largest privately held seafood company, had previously apologized in 2019 after an earlier investigation revealed similar conditions. The company committed to retraining employees and updating management practices, but the recent findings suggest these reforms have not been implemented effectively. Cooke declined to comment directly on the latest investigation but stated they are reviewing the footage and will take disciplinary action if necessary.
Why It Matters
This investigation underscores the ongoing failure of the livestock industry, particularly fish farming, to address animal cruelty despite public promises of reform. It highlights the limitations of industry-led self-regulation and the need for stronger oversight and legal protections for farmed animals. Consumers cannot rely solely on corporate assurances when systemic abuse persists over years.
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Background
Animal Outlook’s investigation builds on a 2019 exposé that documented cruelty at Cooke’s hatchery, prompting a company apology and promises of reform. However, follow-up investigations in 2025 reveal that conditions have not improved, illustrating a pattern of repeated violations across the industry. This pattern is common among factory farms and aquaculture operations, where welfare issues often persist despite public commitments.
“We know that crowding and treating these animals as commodities will lead to cruelty. Our findings confirm that promises of reform are often empty without meaningful oversight.”
— Ben Williamson, Animal Outlook executive director
“It looks to me like they have a systemic welfare issue at this farm. The repeated violations suggest a failure at the management level.”
— Culum Brown, fish welfare researcher
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What Remains Unclear
It is not yet clear whether Cooke Aquaculture will implement meaningful reforms following this investigation or whether further internal or external oversight will be introduced. The company has not responded directly to the detailed findings, and the extent of systemic change remains uncertain.
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What’s Next
Animal Outlook plans to continue monitoring Cooke’s practices and may conduct additional investigations. Regulatory agencies could also increase oversight if systemic violations are confirmed, potentially leading to legal action or stricter enforcement. Consumers and advocacy groups are likely to press for stronger legislation to prevent such abuses in the future.
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Key Questions
Will Cooke Aquaculture face legal consequences for these violations?
It is currently unclear if regulatory agencies will pursue legal action. Cooke has not responded directly to the latest findings, but ongoing violations could prompt investigations or penalties.
What reforms did Cooke promise after the 2019 investigation?
The company pledged to retrain employees and update management practices. However, the recent investigation suggests these measures were not effectively implemented.
How common are these kinds of violations in the aquaculture industry?
Investigations have documented widespread welfare issues across many farms, indicating that systemic cruelty is a common problem in the industry.
Can consumers do anything to ensure better animal welfare?
Consumers can choose products certified by responsible standards, support legislation for stronger animal protections, and advocate for transparency and accountability from companies.
Source: Vox
