BELFAST, Maine (AP) - A large, land-based salmon farming operation in Maine has

obtained a key approval it needed to move forward, but opposition to the project remains.

Nordic Aquafarms wants to build a $500 million, 55-acre salmon farm in Belfast, in the middle of the state’s Atlantic coastline. The plant would be capable of producing about 70 million pounds of Atlantic salmon a year.

The company announced last week that is has received a U.S. Army Corp of Engineers permit, which is the final permit it needs.

However, local conservationists are still challenging the salmon farm in cour...