TL;DR
Animal Outlook’s recent undercover investigation at Cooke Aquaculture’s Maine hatchery found repeated animal welfare violations, similar to those documented in 2019. The company had previously promised reforms, but conditions remain poor, raising questions about industry accountability.
A new undercover investigation by Animal Outlook has documented ongoing animal cruelty at Cooke Aquaculture’s Maine hatchery, despite the company’s prior promises to improve conditions following a 2019 exposé.
In 2019, Animal Outlook undercover footage revealed severe welfare violations at Cooke Aquaculture’s hatchery, including fish culling through beating, overcrowding, and diseased fish. The company apologized and committed to reforms, but a follow-up investigation in late 2025 found similar conditions persist.
The recent investigation documented 133 instances of improper handling, including workers beating fish with metal rods, leaving fish to suffocate, and cutting into live fish. It also observed fungal infections, deformities, and unexplained mass mortalities involving hundreds or thousands of fish. Cooke Aquaculture has not responded to detailed questions but stated it is reviewing the footage and will take disciplinary actions where appropriate.
Why It Matters
This development underscores the persistent failure of industry self-regulation and the limited impact of investigations alone in improving animal welfare. It raises concerns about the reliability of company promises and highlights the ongoing inhumane treatment of farmed fish, which remains largely unregulated at the federal level.
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Background
In 2019, Animal Outlook’s undercover video at Cooke’s hatchery prompted a public apology and promises of reform, including employee retraining and facility updates. However, subsequent investigations reveal that conditions have not significantly improved, exemplifying a broader pattern of repeated violations across the livestock industry, where cruelty often remains unchecked due to lack of federal oversight.
“We know that fundamentally crowding this many animals in these kinds of tanks is going to lead to welfare problems. Treating these animals as commodities is going to lead to cruelty.”
— Ben Williamson, Animal Outlook
“It looks to me like they have a systemic welfare issue at this farm.”
— Culum Brown, fish welfare researcher
“Cooke USA takes animal welfare very seriously. Appropriate disciplinary measures will be taken with respect to employees who have not followed company policy.”
— Cooke Aquaculture spokesperson
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What Remains Unclear
It is still unclear whether Cooke Aquaculture will implement meaningful, lasting reforms or if future investigations will reveal continued violations. The company’s internal review process and accountability measures remain undisclosed, and the actual impact on animal welfare is uncertain.
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What’s Next
Animal Outlook and other advocacy groups are expected to continue monitoring Cooke’s facilities and similar operations. Future investigations may assess whether the company enforces disciplinary actions and implements substantive reforms. Regulatory agencies could also step in if systemic issues persist.
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Key Questions
Why do companies promise reforms after investigations but often fail to follow through?
Many companies operate under financial and reputational pressures that lead to temporary measures rather than systemic change. Without strong regulatory oversight, promises may be superficial or unenforced.
What are the legal protections for farmed fish regarding animal welfare?
Currently, there are limited federal laws specifically protecting farmed fish from cruelty. Most regulations focus on environmental standards rather than animal welfare.
Could this investigation lead to regulatory changes?
Potentially, if ongoing evidence of systemic cruelty prompts policymakers to consider stricter federal animal welfare standards for aquaculture and livestock industries.
Source: Vox
