November 22, 2019 — The Maine Department of Agriculture’s Animal Welfare Division has concluded its investigation into the Cooke Aquaculture salmon hatchery in Bingham, Maine, finding no punitive measures were necessary after the company implemented a number of reforms.
The investigation was prompted by more than 17 hours of video footage shot by an undercover representative of Compassion over Killing, a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit advocating for and end to animal abuse and greater adoption of vegan diets nationwide. The group has ties to VegInvest Trust, an investment fund that has backed seafood analog companies. An abbreviated, edited version of the video produced by Compassion over Killing was made public on 7 October.