Wash. state phases out Atlantic salmon

Washington state will phase out marine farming of Atlantic salmon and other non-native fish by 2022 under legislation signed Thursday by Gov. Jay Inslee.

Net pens growing Atlantic salmon in state waters have operated for several decades but the practice came under heavy criticism after tens of thousands of non-native fish escaped into waterways last summer.

Inslee has said the risks are not acceptable given the high priority — and hundreds of millions of dollars spent — on bringing back declining populations of native Pacific salmon runs.

The legislation sponsored by Rep. Kristine Lytton, a Democrat, would end state leases and permits for operations that grow non-native finfish in state waters when current leases expire.

It targets Canada’s Cooke Aquaculture Pacific, the largest producer of farmed Atlantic salmon in the U.S., whose net pens in northwest Washington collapsed Aug. 19.

Top state officials said the escape of the salmon put the state’s ecosystem at risk and fined the company US$332,000. Up to 263,000 invasive Atlantic salmon escaped into Puget Sound, raising fears about the impact to Pacific salmon runs.

“While our company and our rural sea farming employees are deeply disappointed by the governor’s decision to ignore the science and sign the bill, we will certainly respect the wishes of the legislature,” Cooke’s vice-president Joel Richardson said in an emailed statement Thursday.

He added that the company will “take the time we need to fully evaluate our operations and investments in Washington and explore all our available options.”

Cooke currently holds two leases with the state that both expire in 2022. The state cancelled two other Cooke leases in recent months following inspections at those facilities.

Environmental groups and others cheered the legislation Thursday.

“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.

The Washington Fish Growers Association had 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.

Initiative activist Tim Eyman has filed two proposed referenda with the state that would put legislation phasing out non-native finfish farming to the people for a vote.