Conservation group to acquire site of former Belfast fish farm project.
A Maine-based conservation group has entered into a contract to purchase the 54-acre site in Belfast that had been slated for a $500 million land-based salmon farm by Nordic Aquafarms.
Upstream Watch, which was among the most vocal opponents of the proposed facility, announced the agreement to acquire the land at 285 Northport Avenue — the site of the now-abandoned fish farming project — with the intention of placing it under permanent conservation.
Nordic Aquafarms withdrew from the project in January 2024 following years of legal and community opposition. The company subsequently listed the site for sale at $2 million.
In a statement, Upstream Watch said the move aims to ensure long-term protection of the Little River ecosystem and prevent future industrial development on the site. The group has not disclosed the purchase price.
The land was previously owned by the Belfast Water District and includes a variety of natural features, including trails, wetlands, forest, and views over Penobscot Bay.
Earlier this year, Nordic settled a legal dispute with Upstream Watch by agreeing to pay the group $125,000, using several Belfast properties as collateral. It remains unclear whether the planned land sale will affect that agreement.