Washington state has banned all commercial fish farms using open-net systems, making British Columbia the only jurisdiction on the upper West Coast to permit this type of farming. The ban follows a similar movement across North America, with Alaska, Oregon, and California already prohibiting net pen farming. Advocates argue that open-net pens pose threats to wild salmon populations through escapes and parasite transmission.
In June, Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced that it would not renew licences for open-net pen salmon farms as of June 30, 2029.A Washington state panel voted to ban all commercial fish farms that use an open-net system, making British Columbia the only jurisdiction on the upper West Coast to permit this type of fish farm.
“There is no debate that there are impacts,” Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz told the state board, according to the Seattle Times. “Avoiding impacts is our legal and moral responsibility. ... I am asking the board to learn from the past and the effects of our decision.” The 2017 escape of 250,000 non-native Atlantic salmon from a farm into the water surrounding Cypress Island in Washington’s Skagit County loomed large over the meeting on Tuesday. The farm was owned by Canadian fish farm giant Cooke Aquaculture. Ultimately, it led to the passing of a bill that prevented the Department of Natural Resources from approving any new licences for non-native fish farms. It also led to the state’s 2022 executive order.
“This decision sets a dangerous precedent by stripping Tribes of the opportunity to exercise our sovereignty and pursue sustainable practices that align with our values for future generations,” said W. Ron Allen, chairman of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, the First Nations group that has been most vocal in its opposition to fish farm closings.
In 2022, after the executive order, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe sued the state, arguing the community had not been consulted or considered. While Washington chose to revoke the licences of fish farms after the executive order two years ago, Canada, facing the same concerns, chose to renew licences for another five years. B.C. fish farms are still in operation, and “bacteria and viruses are still being spread to wild fish,” said Stan Proboszcz, senior science and policy analyst at the Watershed Watch Salmon Society.
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