Washington State Makes History: First in the World to Permanently Ban Commercial Net Pens to Protect Wild Salmon, Orcas and Puget Sound Ecosystems
We are celebrating a monumental environmental victory for Puget Sound’s ecosystems, Washington Tribal Nations and the protection of our iconic wild salmon and Southern Resident orcas. On Tuesday, Washington state made history, becoming the first — and only — place in the world to successfully remove and permanently ban commercial net pen aquaculture.
On Jan. 7, the Washington state Board of Natural Resources cast a landmark vote to adopt a new rule prohibiting commercial finfish net pen aquaculture in all state-managed marine waters. This decision ensures that this dangerous industry will never return to threaten Puget Sound’s ecosystems, safeguarding the health of Washington’s public waters for generations to come.
“This is a landmark moment for environmental protection,” said Emma Helverson, executive director of Wild Fish Conservancy. “Thanks to the commitment of the public and the leadership of Tribal Nations, we have achieved something extraordinary. This victory is not just for Puget Sound — it’s for every community, every species and every ecosystem that has been impacted by the harmful practice of commercial net pens.”