Washington State Prohibits Net Pen Aquaculture in Public Waters

Washington state is banning commercial farms of salmon, steelhead, and other finfish in the state’s public aquatic lands under a state official’s order on Friday.

The action, from Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, will make the Evergreen State align with net pen salmon aquaculture policy in place in Alaska, Oregon, and California.

“We, as a state, are going to do better by our salmon, by our fishermen, and by our tribes,” Franz said. “Commercial finfish farming is detrimental ...