BELFAST, Maine — Nordic Aquafarms proposed land-based salmon farm in Belfast continues to meet opposition.
"This is not an appropriate site for it, under any circumstance. I don't know where the appropriate site in Maine is, but Penobscot Bay is not it," says Kim Ervin Tucker.
Kim Ervin Tucker is an attorney, currently representing environmental non-profit UpStream watch and the Maine Lobstering Union.
Among their environmental concerns, Ervin-Tucker believes part of the residential area that Nordic Aquafarms has to go through to reach the bay, doesn't belong to the family that gave them access to it.
Nordic Aquafarms was granted an easement on a Belfast family's property, which would allow them to construct part of the pipeline, into the inter-tidal zone on their property.
Ervin Tucker believes however that in documents she read, that property was sold decades ago and the land between the tides was not part of it.
"Protecting that land as residential use only. That no for profit businesses could be conducted there without her permission or permission of heirs or assigns," said Ervin Tucker.
Nordic Aqua Farms said in a statement to NEWS CENTER Maine "Kim Tucker has repeatedly tried to stop our permit application by claiming that Nordic Aquafarms has no right, title and interest to the intertidal zone outside of the Eckrote property since they don´t own it. All her attempts so far have been unsuccessful. Nordic Aquafarms has the right, title and interest to this land. We are proceeding with the permit application that will address these issues. We have no interest in playing this game with Kim Tucker in the media. We are grateful for all the local support we have received and we think it is unfortunate that a minority is continuously spreading lies and misinformation regarding this project."
Nordic Aqua Farms is currently in the permitting and application process for state approval for the project. Without definitive proof that the water they hope to work on can be used by them, it may delay the project.