Finfish net pen aquaculture banned in Washington
Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz announced Friday an executive order that prohibits commercial finfish net pen aquaculture on Department of Natural Resources-run aquatic lands.
The move comes after hundreds of thousands of Atlantic salmon escaped during a 2017 net pen collapse at Cooke Aquaculture’s Cypress Island fish farm, which prompted fears about damage to native salmon runs and led the state legislature in 2018 to ban farming of nonnative fish.
“Through my order today, we are removing one unnecessary threat from our marine ecosystem,” Franz said. “This is a critical step to support our waters, fishermen and women, tribes, and the native salmon that we are so ferociously fighting to save.”
DNR has denied Cooke Aquaculture’s request to re-lease sites to continue finfish net pen aquaculture. The company has until Dec. 14 to finish operations, begin removing its facilities and repairing any environmental damage.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/finfish-net-pen-aquaculture-banned-in-washington/ar-AA14hLJW
