KGMI News
OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Natural Resources has terminated the Cypress Island net pen lease of Cooke Aquaculture.
On Tuesday, state investigators released their finding that Cooke’s failure to properly clean and maintain its facility was the primary cause of the August 19 net pen collapse at Cypress Island the resulted in the release of hundreds of thousands of non-native Atlantic salmon into Puget Sound.
Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz said the company “has flagrantly violated the terms of its lease.”
DNR says they will work with Cooke to end operations at the site in a timely and safe manner…and that they are reviewing Cooke’s other Atlantic salmon facilities – at Rich Passage and Hope Island.