net pens

An aerial view of a grid of fish pens in the water with tree-covered islands in the background.

Cooke Aquaculture files suit over terminated net pen leases in WA

Bellamy Pailthorp

Cooke Aquaculture has filed an appeal in Thurston County Superior Court against Washington’s decision to terminate its leases for fin fish net pens in state waters. In court documents, the company says the decision was arbitrary, politically motivated and contrary to science.

Environment

Washington tribe tests its rights to commercial net pen fish farming

Bellamy Pailthorp

An executive order from a Washington state agency earlier this month aims to end commercial net pen fish farming in public waters. Cooke Aquaculture is being forced to shut down its operations, but it has a key partner in its fight to remain. The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is forging ahead with its net pen aquaculture plans, testing a carve-out clause in the order.

FILE - In this photo provided by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, a crane and boats are anchored next to a collapsed "net pen" used by Cooke Aquaculture Pacific to farm Atlantic Salmon near Cypress Island in Washington state on Aug. 28, 2017. Washington has banned net-pen fish-farming in state waters, citing danger to struggling native salmon. Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz issued an executive order Friday banning such aquaculture.

Environment

Washington ends commercial net pen fish farming in state waters

Bellamy Pailthorp

Washington state's Department of Natural Resources will ban commercial net pen fish farming in Washington waters, following an executive order announced Friday. The move comes in the same week that the agency opted not to renew the last two remaining leases held by Cooke Aquaculture in Puget Sound.

An aerial view of a net pen that's curved and broken with a crane and support vessels nearby.

Environment

Washington won't renew leases for Puget Sound fish farms

The Associated Press

The Washington state Department of Natural Resources says it will not renew the last of a fish-farming company’s leases on net pens in Puget Sound. Department officials say Cooke Aquaculture has until Dec. 14 to finish steelhead farming and start deconstructing equipment.

Environment

Lummi Nation wins damages for net pen collapse; BC plans to phase out the practice

Bellamy Pailthorp

On Wednesday, a Washington state jury ordered Cooke Aquaculture to pay the Lummi Nation $595,000 in damages for a 2017 net pen collapse. Canada also announced plans to phase out open water net pens in the province.

Cooke Aquaculture's Atlantic salmon farm near Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Environment

State Supreme Court OKs Cooke Aquaculture steelhead farming

The Associated Press

The Washington state Supreme Court has unanimously upheld permits that will allow Cooke Aquaculture Pacific to farm steelhead trout in net pens in Washington waters. The decision clears the permit hurdle for the international aquaculture giant to change its operations from farming Atlantic salmon to steelhead.

Environment

Swinomish Tribe objects as state allows Cooke Aquaculture to stock net pen at Hope Island

Bellamy Pailthorp

The Swinomish Tribe is filing another amicus brief this week, in support of a lawsuit against the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. Environmental…

Environment

Cooke Aquaculture partners with Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe to farm native fish in the Salish Sea

Bellamy Pailthorp

It’s been more than two years since Cooke Aquaculture’s net pens collapsed at Cypress Island near Anacortes. The fallout led the state Legislature to ban…

A net pen collapse in August 2017 that released several hundred thousand non-native Atlantic salmon into Puget Sound energized industry opponents in the Washington Legislature.

Environment

Phase Out Of Atlantic Salmon Farming In Puget Sound Headed To Governor's Desk

Tom Banse

The Washington Legislature approved a phase out of Atlantic salmon farming in state waters on Friday and sent the measure to the desk of Gov. Jay Inslee...

Environment

Cooke Threatens NAFTA Suit Over Non-Native Net Pen Farming

Bellamy Pailthorp

Cooke Aquaculture is applauding members of a state House committee after they took no action on a bill that would have phased out net-pen farming of…