Whole Oceans, a company that once promised a $200 million, large-scale land-based salmon farm in Bucksport, Maine, is now moving forward with a significantly scaled-down version of the project—just 15% of the original size. The revised 3,000-metric-ton plan comes after years of delays, silence, and lapsed permits. Local officials remain cautiously optimistic, seeing potential benefits for the town’s economy, but residents are skeptical after years of inaction.
Originally envisioned as a transformative project for Bucksport after the 2014 closure of the Verso Paper mill, the development has lost momentum amid broader setbacks for large aquaculture ventures in Maine. Whole Oceans now presents the smaller version as a “proof of concept” to attract investors, in partnership with PR Aqua and Kuterra Salmon.
While town officials are open to scaling the project and diversifying land use on the former mill site. The shift in scope may also impact planned tax benefits for the town. Despite these challenges, Bucksport officials still see value in the location’s infrastructure and power access, and hope the project—if successful—can anchor further redevelopment.