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Satellite analysis finds six sites with concentrations of degraded equipment & recent photographs show large quantities of PVC, Styrofoam, rope still present in some places despite clean-up order
OTTAWA, ON – Following a months-long investigation into the disposal and abandonment of obsolete salmon farming equipment at sea, ASF is calling on Prime Minister Mark Carney and Fisheries and Oceans Canada Minister Joanne Thompson to place a moratorium on salmon farm expansion in Newfoundland and Labrador.
ASF engaged Planetixx, an Oxford, U.K.-based image analysis firm, to provide objective satellite imagery analysis of the south coast of Newfoundland, the region of the province where sea-cage salmon farms operate. This expanded project follows a similar review of one site completed in 2024 that led to a provincial clean-up order.
Satellite images revealed six sites with clusters of misshapen, oddly arranged sea-cages, some of which have persisted in the same location since 2011, when high resolution images first became available. The number of degraded and obsolete sea-cages at each location varied over time, from a handful to over 130 in one place.
Although the most recent satellite images show some areas have been cleaned up following the January 2025 provincial order, on June 23rd ASF staff visited two of the six identified dump sites and observed large quantities of broken PVC pipe, exposed Styrofoam, and loose ropes still present.
During the June trip, using a submersible vehicle, ASF also photographed a complete sea-cage, including netting that appeared to be intentionally sunk, something not previously recorded.
Disposal at sea and dumping of industrial waste is a violation of multiple federal and provincial laws, yet aside from ordering the companies to clean up, ASF is not aware of any enforcement action from the provincial or federal government.
“The situation in Newfoundland highlights Canada’s inconsistent aquaculture policies. DFO has ordered salmon farms out of the water in British Columbia, yet the department turns a blind eye to violations in Atlantic Canada,” said Neville Crabbe, V.P. of communications for ASF.
The survey also documented low utilization of the 106 licensed fish farm sites in Newfoundland and Labrador. At exactly half of the locations, 53, no salmon farming equipment was observed at any time during the study period, which ran from January 2021 to April 2025.
“Given the low utilization of existing sites, the documented plastic pollution, and other well-known problems like interbreeding between farm escapes and wild salmon, the responsible thing for Canada to do is place a moratorium on all salmon farm expansion in Newfoundland and Labrador until the mess can be cleaned up and problems fixed,” said Crabbe.
To read a full summary of the report, click here.
For a gallery of satellite images and on-the-ground photographs, click here.
For a backgrounder on ASF and our position on salmon farming, click here.
To arrange interviews contact Tom Cheney
tcheney@asf.ca | (902) 717-1414
Founded in 1948, ASF is dedicated to the conservation and restoration of wild Atlantic salmon.