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Aquaculture Magazine reports:
Cooke United States (USA) announced the celebration of the first 20 years of aquaculture operations in Maine to supply fresh Atlantic salmon to grocery stores and restaurants throughout New England and the United States. The 20th anniversary includes the rollout of a refreshed brand logo from Cooke Aquaculture USA to Cooke USA, matching Cooke’s company-wide initiative to create a cohesive identity across its global seafood operations in 14 countries.
Cooke has over 200 employees throughout the state and is one of Washington County’s largest employers a region devoted to aquaculture and fishing in the Gulf of Maine. Today, the company operates certified marine farms in Down East Maine, a salmon processing plant in Machiasport and three land based freshwater hatcheries — two in western Maine and one in eastern Maine.
“Twenty years ago, this month in 2004, with the acquisition of Atlantic Salmon of Maine, we aimed to stabilize Maine’s salmon farming industry through improved efficiencies to support Maine’s working waterfront and provide jobs,” said Glenn Cooke, CEO of Cooke. “We have many long-term employees who have been with us from the start, and we thank them for their dedication and are grateful to all those who have joined us over the years to grow a sustainable local business.”
Cooke Aquaculture was established in 1985 by the Cooke family in Blacks Harbor, New Brunswick Canada. From humble beginnings of one farm site and 5,000 salmon, Cooke is now the largest private family-owned seafood company in the world employing more than 13,000 people worldwide. The Cooke family of companies operate global aquaculture and wild fishery divisions in 14 countries providing a sustainable seafood source reaching tables all over the world.
Stabilizing Maine’s salmon farming industry
According to the company, Cooke’s core purpose is “to cultivate the ocean with care, nourish the world, provide for our families, and build stronger communities”.
For his part, Chris Gardner, executive director of the Eastport Port Authority and chairman of the Washington County Commission, assured: “Cooke, and salmon aquaculture in general, is woven into the fabric of Washington County’s economy. Not only does the company provide direct employment to dozens of people in Eastport and throughout Washington County, but it also supports numerous other businesses that provide goods and services year-round, helping sustain the region’s ocean-based economy,” said Chris Gardner, executive director of the Eastport Port Authority and chairman of the Washington County Commission.
“Maine’s iconic seafood industry is a key part of our state’s heritage and a cornerstone of our economy. For two decades, Cooke USA has been a leader in seafood production in Maine, employing hundreds of people in high-quality, good-paying jobs,” said Maine Governor Janet Mills. “I congratulate Cooke as it marks 20 years in Maine and thank this family-owned business for its extraordinary contributions to the Maine economy.”
“Congratulations to Glenn Cooke and the Cooke family. Cooke has been a valued contributor to Maine’s aquaculture community and seafood economy,” commented Sebastian Belle, executive director of the Maine Aquaculture Association. “The company is family-owned, regionally based and competitive with well-established sales and marketing channels, and that it has operations here in Maine gives the state a seat at the table in the global salmon arena,” he added.
Funding Partner of the GSSI
Also recently, the Global Sustainable Seafood Initiative (GSSI) announced that Cooke has joined the entity as a Funding Partner. They assured that “Cooke’s core purpose is to cultivate the ocean with care, nourish the world, provide for families, and build stronger communities – this aligns closely with the vision of GSSI”.
“We recognize that it is important to our customers that our values and company mission are reflected in the daily work of our employees across our divisions, our supply chain and in our communities. As a family company, we know that providing a sustainable food source to the world is a top priority and that sustainable aquaculture and fishing are crucial elements in feeding generations to come. Working with GSSI and their members, we will continue to ensure our seafood is certified to the highest standards,” says Michael Szemerda, Chief Sustainability Officer of Cooke.
As a GSSI Partner, Cooke aims to play a larger role in empowering our sustainability leaders to collaborate and share knowledge to ensure confidence in the supply of certified seafood.
