OC comments to WDFW in opposition of MDNS 19-056 | RAISING STERILE ALL-FEMALE TRIPLOID RAINBOW TROUT/STEELHEAD AT EXISTING MARINE NET PEN SITES IN PUGET SOUND

In August 2017, Cooke Aquaculture allowed the escape of over 300,000 nonnative Atlantic salmon into Washington waters.  We may never know the true impact this event had and continues to have on wild salmon in the Northwest. The good news is - the WA State legislature passed a bill in 2018, Engrossed House Bill 2957, that will phase out the Atlantic salmon net pen industry from Washington State by 2024. Governor Inslee signed the bill on March 23rd.

Now Cooke Aquaculture is back with a new proposal to transition their facilities to biologically altered steelhead not prohibited by Washington’s hard-fought law. This new proposal circumvents the public’s will and once again puts Puget Sound at risk of industrial net pen aquaculture.

This is the definition of insanity and we cannot allow this to continue in Washington State waters.

Please feel free to use our comments to submit YOUR comments at: SEPAdesk2@dfw.wa.gov

Thank you!!