Achievement
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9 April 2026

This is a major victory for animals and for GAIA. On 2 April 2026, the Council of State rejected the cassation appeal lodged by Columbi Salmon, bringing the mega salmon farming project in Ostend to a definitive end. After six years of campaigning, the permit has been irrevocably annulled.

This oversized project planned to farm nearly three million Atlantic salmon a year, which would have made it the largest facility of its kind in Europe. The fish would have been confined in tanks at extremely high stocking densities, with up to 36 salmon per cubic metre, in conditions incompatible with their most basic needs.

Behind these figures lies a brutal reality: chronic stress, injuries, disease, parasites, and the complete denial of natural behaviour. In the wild, salmon travel thousands of kilometres. In industrial farming systems, they are reduced to merely surviving in overcrowded tanks. Science is clear on this point: fish are sentient beings capable of feeling pain.

This is a major victory, both for animals and for the rule of law. This grossly oversized industrial project has now been definitively buried.

Michel Vandenbosch
President of GAIA

This ruling also marks an important legal step forward. The Council of State explicitly recognises GAIA’s standing to take legal action in cases involving animal welfare. It also confirms that the interests of animals, including fish, can be taken into account in environmental proceedings.

Another key takeaway is that such a facility cannot be regarded as a port activity linked to the sea. The project was therefore incompatible with the designated use of the port of Ostend.

For GAIA, this decision sends a clear message. Industrial projects that disregard animal welfare will not go unchallenged. Following the rejection of a similar project in Baelen in 2023, this new victory confirms that determined opposition can stop unacceptable projects.

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The Harsh Reality of Intensive Fish Farming

Intensive fish farms, like Columbi Salmon’s planned project in Ostend, cause immense animal suffering. Atlantic salmon, which naturally swim thousands of kilometers, are confined to overcrowded tanks or cages. With densities of 36 fish per cubic meter, they are entirely deprived of their natural environment and instincts. They cannot swim freely, search for food, or hide from threats, resulting in lives filled with stress, disease, and suffering.

  • Physical and Psychological Suffering

    The unnatural living conditions in fish farms lead to severe health problems. Overcrowding causes chronic stress, weakening the fish’s immune systems and leaving them vulnerable to diseases and parasites like sea lice. These parasites cause painful wounds, stunt growth, and disrupt the salmon’s nutrition. Many fish suffer severe injuries from infections, abrasions, or damaged gills.

  • Sea Lice and Harmful Treatments

    Sea lice, which feed on salmon’s blood and skin, pose a significant challenge in fish farms. The industry uses treatments such as exposing fish to extremely hot water or high pressure to remove parasites. These methods are not only ineffective but also cruel; many fish die during these “solutions.” Additionally, cleaner fish, used to manage lice populations, endure poor living conditions and aggressive interactions.

  • Lifelong Captivity

    In intensive farms, salmon cannot display natural behaviors. In the wild, they travel vast distances to spawn, but in cages, they swim aimlessly in confined spaces. They are unable to adapt to environmental changes such as fluctuations in oxygen levels or temperature, exacerbating their suffering.

  • Fish Feel Pain

    Scientific research confirms that fish can feel pain. Studies conducted by the Universities of Edinburgh (2003) and Liverpool (2019) prove that the pain system in fish is comparable to that of mammals. Fish even exhibit long-term behavioral changes following painful experiences, underscoring their capacity to suffer.

  • Animal Cruelty at Slaughter

    In many farms, salmon are slaughtered without stunning, meaning they die fully conscious. Even when methods such as electrical stunning or a blow to the head are used, these are often ineffective, leading to unnecessary suffering.

  • Environmental Damage

    The environmental impact of fish farms is devastating. Waste products such as feces and leftover feed pollute the water and seabed, leading to biodiversity loss and eutrophication, which causes harmful algal blooms. Additionally, the chemicals and antibiotics used to combat diseases pollute the surrounding environment, threatening wild fish populations.

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