Salmon nets set up close to Cypress Island, which experienced damage last year. (Photo: Washington Department of Natural Resocurces)

Washington passes Atlantic salmon farm ban law

UNITED STATES
Friday, March 23, 2018, 23:00 (GMT + 9)

Washington state governor Jay Inslee has passed the law phasing out Atlantic salmon farming and other non-native fish in the state waters, which will ban the practice by 2022.

The move comes after an ill-fated fish farm near Anacortes owned by Cooke Aquaculture started to come undone in a strong current and was torn apart in August 2017, letting as many as 260,000 Atlantic salmon escape into Puget Sound.

State investigators concluded that the farm's poor condition as a consequence of not having followed the required protocol for repais and of poor technical service.

"The collapse was not the result of natural causes. Cooke's disregard caused this disaster and recklessly put our state's aquatic ecosystem at risk," said Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz.

The new legislation states that the state's remaining Atlantic salmon farms, all owned by Cooke, could be gone by 2022, once their existing leases with the Washington Department of Natural Resources expire.

“Our company and our rural sea farming employees are deeply disappointed by the Governor’s decision to ignore the science and sign the bill,” Cooke spokesperson Joel Richardson said in an email after the signing. He said the company was evaluating all available options.

He said the bill would strip the Canada-based company of its USD 76 million investment and that previous American companies experienced major fish escapes but weren't punished in the same way.

While the Washington Fish Growers Association urged the governor to veto the bill, calling it a drastic measure to ban entire farming sector that would put hundreds of rural workers out of jobs, environmental groups cheered the legislation.

"This was a major step forward to restore the health of Puget sound and our wild salmon," said Kurt Beardslee, who directs The Wild Fish Conservancy.

Washington state now joins Alaska, which has banned commercial finfish aquaculture. Oregon and California do not have commercial salmon net pen operations.

Marine aquaculture is promoted by the federal government and others as a sustainable solution to feed a growing demand worldwide for seafood. The US currently imports about 90 per cent of its seafood and half of that is farmed, according to NOAA Fisheries.

John Volpe, associate professor of environment studies at the University of Victoria, said this month that there are too many issues, CTVNews informed.

"I've long argued that salmon farming in North America is in search of a problem. It comes with a boat load of issues. It's not easy to justify," he said.

Kenneth Warheit, who supervises the genetic and health laboratories for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, said he thinks "that Atlantic salmon aquaculture in the state of Washington poses a low risk to our native salmon."

Related articles:

- Washington legislators approve Atlantic salmon farming ban
- More scientists join open letter to stop salmon farming ban in Washington
- Washington fish farmers urge senate to support alternative for farmed salmon bans
- Washington fish growers urge Senate to stop salmon farm bans
- Cooke Aquaculture fined for negligence that led to salmon escape

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