Comments to Department of Ecology Citing Major Concerns with Proposed Steelhead Net Pens

Recently, we submitted comments to the Washington Department of Ecology citing a litany of concerns with Cooke Aquaculture's proposal to transition their existing Atlantic salmon net pens to farmed triploid rainbow trout (steelhead) and urging the Department to conduct a full State Environmental Policy Act review for Cooke’s proposal to modify their water quality permits.

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Ghosts of Steelhead Past

Above the water’s surface, Hood Canal, Washington resembles a sportsperson’s paradise. From camping on the beach to hiking to rugged alpine lakes, to chasing deer and elk in thick timber, to foraging clams and oysters when the tide is out, outdoor opportunities abound in this verdant country. However, when you venture beneath the water’s surface and wade into the gorgeous, raucous rivers that carve up this stunning corner of Washington, you begin to see that something iconic is missing.

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Wild Steelhead Coaltion
WSC has permanently protected eight acres of critical public fishing access on the Lower Grande Ronde River

With the support of key partners in the fishing community, the WSC has secured a major victory for angler access and steelhead conservation by completing the purchase of an eight-acre parcel of land with 2,000 feet of riverfront on the lower Grande Ronde River in Eastern Washington, which will soon be donated to the Washington Department of Wildlife for permanent protection and continued public use.

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Wild Steelhead Coaltion
Please Contact WA State Senators About Steelhead Net Pens in Puget Sound

This Thursday, the state Senate Agriculture, Water, Natural Resources & Parks Committee is holding a work session to discuss fish farming. We expect Cooke and their allies to testify, and we need senators on the committee to know the public is deeply concerned about these private polluters receiving new permits to operate in Puget Sound, so please take action today.

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The Clearwater Closure: A New Direction is Needed for Snake River Steelhead

Near the end of September, the Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) Commission voted to close the season on the Clearwater River and a portion of the Snake River within the state’s border. It is our hope that the closure this Fall is the final alarm call that wakes up the public, fishery managers and the angling community to the desperate situation steelhead, and salmon, face in the Columbia and Snake River systems.

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SnakeWild Steelhead Coaltion
WSC Supports OP Enforcement

The Wild Steelhead Coalition was honored to donate a brand new raft, oars, trail cameras, and spotting scopes to the WDFW Law Enforcement Program on the Olympic Peninsula to support their critical efforts to defend and protect our shared natural resources in that vast, wild landscape.

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Wild Steelhead Coaltion
WSC’s Proposed Steelhead Net Pen Comments

Cooke Aquaculture's proposed steelhead net pens could have major repercussions on Washington’s wild steelhead populations and must be more thoroughly reviewed before any approval is provided. The following is the Wild Steelhead Coalition's comments on the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Draft State Environmental Protection Act (SEPA) documents.

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Wild Steelhead Coalition Concerned about Cooke Aquaculture’s Plans to Raise Steelhead in Net Pens in Puget Sound

The Wild Steelhead Coalition opposes Cooke Aquaculture’s application to transition its net pen operations to farming steelhead in Washington’s marine waters and is committed to working with our partners in the fishing, conservation, and tribal communities to pressure state agencies and elected officials to deny their application.

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