4-30-2019
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The company that owned the Cypress Island farmed-fish net pen that collapsed in 2017 will pay the full fine imposed by the Department of Ecology.
The collapse released a quarter of a million non-native Atlantic salmon into Puget Sound and the Dept. of Ecology fined Cooke Aquaculture $332,000 for a number of maintenance failures.
Cooke initially appealed the penalty, but has reached an agreement to pay the full amount.
Ecology also says it’s updating and strengthening its permits for Cooke’s four remaining net pens near Hope and Bainbridge Islands.
State lawmakers voted to phase out non-native fish farming in Washington waters following the Cypress net pen collapse.
Cooke can continue operations until the phase out begins in 2022.