SATS attacks Washington state net pen ban
US industry group Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) has strongly criticised the Washington State decision to ban all commercial net pen fish farming in its waters.
Together with the Canadian government’s fish farming ban imposed on British Columbia it is also feared by other groups that the move will affect a far wider area than just Washington state waters.
Yesterday, the Washington State Board of Natural Resources voted to uphold the ban on net pen fish farming in state waters, which had initially been imposed by an executive order from Hilary Franz, Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands. Four of the six-member board voted in favour and two abstained.
Drue Banta Winters, campaign manager for SATS, said last night that the decision in Washington State was out of step with the growing bipartisan momentum for open ocean aquaculture across the country.
It was also out of step in the nation’s capital, she argued, as Americans and environmentalists recognised that aquaculture can be conducted without harming the environment, was beneficial for communities, and provided a sustainable source of protein farmed in the US.
She added: “NOAA Fisheries [the fisheries arm of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] has published several scientific reports and publications analysing the effects of net pen Atlantic salmon farming in the Pacific Northwest.
“Together, these documents assess the risks associated with salmon farming, identify best management practices to minimise risks, and find no harm to Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed salmonids from the operations of existing farms.”
Winters said: “Aquaculture is increasingly recognised by those on both sides of the aisle as a critical industry to boost our nation’s economy and ensure a steady supply of healthy, sustainable, American-raised protein.
“The US should be making every effort to expand aquaculture in the US, and today’s decision in Washington State is a step in the wrong direction.”
The last net pen operator in Washington State was Cooke Aquaculture, which last year gave up the fight to save its remaining steelhead trout farms.
You May Also Like
Sign up to our daily Newsletters
Permission Statement
Yes! I would like to be sent emails from Fish Farmer Magazine
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties, and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated.
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen.
© 2025 Fish Farmer.