Impact Story, In The News
January 29, 2025

Big Win for Rose Partners!

Washington State Becomes First in the World to Successfully Remove and Ban Commercial Net Pen Aquaculture

Seattle, Washington – In a landmark environmental achievement, Washington State has become the first jurisdiction in the world to both successfully remove and permanently ban commercial net pen aquaculture. This historic decision follows years of advocacy and action, led by community members, local tribes and Wild Fish Conservancy, a Rose partner. The movement was catalyzed by the catastrophic collapse of a net pen in 2017, operated by Cooke Aquaculture in the San Juan Islands. On January 7, the Washington State Board of Natural Resources adopted a groundbreaking rule prohibiting commercial finfish net pen aquaculture in all state-managed marine waters. This bold step ensures that this harmful practice will no longer endanger Puget Sound’s ecosystems, safeguarding the health of Washington’s waters for future generations.

“All of our success to date, culminating in this historic action, is a powerful statement of what is possible when people unite to challenge the status quo,” said Emma Helverson of Wild Fish Conservancy. “This victory honors the resilience of Tribal Nations, the tireless efforts of local communities, and the overwhelming public will for a cleaner, healthier Puget Sound. It’s a testament to the power of collective action and the belief that lasting change is possible when we work together.”

In 2017, the collapse of a net pen released over 260,000 non-native Atlantic salmon into Puget Sound, sparking an ecological crisis. The spill threatened native salmon populations and the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales (SROs), whose survival depends on these fish. Tribes, including the Lummi Nation, led efforts to recapture the escaped salmon to prevent the spread of disease and potential interbreeding. Meanwhile, the Wild Fish Conservancy filed a lawsuit against Cooke Aquaculture, holding the company accountable for the devastating impacts. This event catalyzed a statewide ban on raising non-native fish in net pens and inspired the creation of the Rose Foundation’s Orca Fund through a Clean Water Act settlement.

In 2019, Cooke Aquaculture agreed to a legal settlement that included the creation of a mitigation fund, administered by the Rose Foundation, to support projects aimed at improving the water quality and aquatic habitats of Puget Sound.

The Orca Fund subsequently awarded over $1 million in grants to 15 community-based and scientific organizations. These projects focused on improving water quality, restoring habitats, and advancing the health of critically endangered SROs.

Orca Fund grantees like Wild Orca have been instrumental in translating science into action. Wild Orca has monitored SRO health for 15 years, using scent detection dogs to non-invasively collect fecal samples. Their research provides critical insights into reproductive health, stress, and nutrition, highlighting the interconnected relationship between orca survival, Chinook salmon populations, and habitat restoration.

“We were thrilled to learn that Washington State has outlawed fish farming with ocean-based net pens, in line with other states within the range of the Southern Resident killer whales,” said Wild Orca’s Science and Research Director, Dr. Deborah Giles. “To recover this endangered whale community, we need to save Pacific salmon, especially Chinook salmon, their primary prey. Wild salmon need healthy ecosystems to thrive, and removing sources of harm from Puget Sound can support salmon recovery in the Salish Sea and give these whales an opportunity to find enough food for their survival.”

“This landmark ban is not just a win for our partners at Wild Fish Conservancy but also a victory for all groups working tirelessly to protect local salmon, improve water quality in Puget Sound, and ensure the survival of the Southern Resident Killer Whales,” said Timothy Bell, Program Officer at the Rose Foundation and Washington State resident, “And we remain committed to partnering with and empowering those on the frontlines of environmental justice and ecological preservation in this remarkable region.”

The permanent ban represents a turning point in the fight to protect Washington’s marine ecosystems. It underscores the enduring dedication of Tribes, conservation organizations, and environmental allies, as well as the power of community-led change.

For more information about the Rose Foundation’s work, visit www.rosefdn.org.

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