Belfast decision puts future of controversial salmon farm in jeopardy [Video]

The city of Belfast will reverse its decision to seize a piece of land needed to build a controversial land-based salmon farm that would be one of the largest in the world.

City councilors voted 4-1 on Tuesday night to direct city attorney Kristin Collins to formalize the reversal in a written order, which the council plans to finalize in May.

Nordic Aquafarms, the Norwegian developer behind the $500 million project, said it needs that land – a parcel of mud flats – to install pipes to pump water in and out of Penobscot Bay. The company thought it owned that property until a Maine Supreme Judicial Court ruling in February 2023 determined it actually belonged to a neighboring couple that opposes the fish farm.

Without a guarantee to the land, it is unclear whether Nordic Aquafarms can move forward. The company said Wednesday it feels “blindsided” by the council’s decision.

“We are considering our options and saddened …