State taking comment on permits for Atlantic salmon fish farms

OLYMPIA — The state Department of Ecology is taking comment now on permits for four Cooke Aquaculture Atlantic salmon farms — three in Kitsap County and one in Skagit Bay.

Farming Atlantic salmon in net pens is officially banned from Puget Sound starting in 2022.

Ecology is using the investigation from the 2017 Cypress Island net pen collapse to mandate more protective permit requirements.

Cooke Aquaculture, the only company farming Atlantic salmon in Washington state, lost its lease in Port Angeles in 2017.

Ecology is accepting comments on the permit through Feb. 25 and will make a final determination after reviewing them.

Information on the draft permit, and a link to comment online, is available at ecology.wa.gov/netpen permit.

Comments can be sent by mail to Rich Doenges, Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 4760, Olympia, WA 98504.

Or they can be provided in person at public hearings planned at 1 p.m. Jan. 30 in a webinar (to register go to ecology.wa.gov/netpen permit), at 6 p.m. Feb. 5 at 1220 10th St. in Anacortes, or at 6 p.m. Feb. 7 at 7566 High School Road NE in Bainbridge Island.

Cooke is required to have updated National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits for its operations near Hope Island and in Rich Passage near Bainbridge Island.

The state Legislature determined earlier this year that farming non-native fish, such as Atlantic salmon, in Washington’s marine waters would be phased out starting in 2022 as part of House Bill 2597.

This means Cooke is allowed to continue with Atlantic salmon farming until 2022. Cooke leases the area for its operations from the state Department of Natural Resources.

“We must protect our waters and native salmon from another disastrous collapse,” said Maia Bellon, director of Ecology. “Until Atlantic salmon farming ends in Washington’s waters, we are requiring these companies to operate under the strongest water quality protections we can put in place.”

Additional protective measures include:

• Increasing underwater video monitoring of net pens.

• Conducting inspections to assess structural integrity of the net pens and submit inspection reports certified by a qualified marine engineer to Ecology.

• Improving net cleaning and maintenance procedures to prevent fish escape.

• Requiring development of site specific response plans in the event of a fish release, and conducting preparedness training.

• Requiring improved maintenance of the net pens.

• Maintaining contact information to notify area tribes in the event of a fish release.

Information on the Cypress Island net pen failure and investigation is available at www.dnr.wa.gov/atlanticsalmon.

More in News

Aubree Hebert, left, and Finn Thompson of Port Angeles High School plant a small tree on their campus on Wednesday, a beautification day for the school. Giant letters P and A were carved out and lined with bricks. The project was led by the Rider Crew, led by Adam Logan, and the Interact Club, with Angie Gooding as the advisor. More than 100 students were enthusiastically involved, and they intend to continue the work next week. Port Angeles School District Superintendent Marty Brewer attended also. Trees were donated by the Clallam County Conservation Society. Landscaping was designed by a student, Scarlett Fulton. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Beautification day at Port Angeles High School

Aubree Hebert, left, and Finn Thompson of Port Angeles High School plant… Continue reading

East Jefferson ambulance fees could increase

Fire commissioners to discuss topic, encourage public input

Proposed fee increases

Here are increases in the proposed new East Jefferson… Continue reading

Kate Dean.
Kate Dean appointed to state Board of Health

Jefferson commissioner appointed by governor

Port Angeles man faces child rape, incest charges

A 30-year-old Port Angeles man faces possible life in… Continue reading

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
FBI agents and Jefferson County Sheriff's deputies served a search warrant Wednesday in Quilcene that is part of a multi-agency investigation covering Western Washington and at least one other state.
Jefferson County deputies help FBI serve search warrant in Quilcene

Jefferson County Sheriff’s deputies assisted FBI agents Wednesday morning in… Continue reading

Reward offered for news of missing teen

The family of a 14-year-old Sequim boy is offering a… Continue reading

Housing Coordinator Holden Fleming speaks to the Port Angeles City Council at their regular meeting on Tuesday, when new zoning codes were adopted in an effort to bring additional housing to the city. (Peter Segall/Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles updates zoning regulations

As it aims for additional housing, city revises code

Clallam County still pursuing Slip Point transfer

Historic designation doesn’t matter, county commissioners are told

Most Read