Action Alert: You Can Help End Commercial Net Pen Aquaculture in WA and Restore Puget Sound for the Benefit and Use of All

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Tell Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz:

Stop Leasing Our Public Waters for Commercial Net Pen Aquaculture and Restore Puget Sound for the Benefit and Use of All

Right now, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz is making a major pivotal decision that will determine the health of Puget Sound for the next decade or longer.

In 2022, every lease that authorizes commercial net pens to operate in Puget Sound will expire, and global seafood corporation Cooke Aquaculture and Our Sound, Our Salmon founder Wild Fish Conservancy have both submitted applications to lease the expiring net pen sites when the existing contracts end.

Commissioner Hilary Franz is now deciding between pressure from Cooke Aquaculture to issue new 12-year leases for the company's controversial net pen operations and Wild Fish Conservancy's Taking Back Our Sound Restoration Project, a proposal to implement a large-scale, passive restoration project to ecologically restore all 130-acres of Puget Sound that have been polluted and harmed by this industry over the past three decades and to restore the public's use and enjoyment of these waters.

Commissioner Franz is required by statute to choose the proposal which is in the best interest of the public. As she prepares to make a final decision, it is urgent and critical that she hears directly from members of the public who want to Protect Puget Sound from this harmful industry.

Use the form below to send Commissioner Hilary Franz an email urging her to make the right decision for wild salmon, endangered orcas, tribal treaty rights, and the health of Puget Sound.

SPEAK UP FOR PUGET SOUND

As an elected official, Commissioner Franz wants to hear from you what kind of Puget Sound you'd like to see tomorrow and leave for future generations.

DON'T WAIT TO TAKE ACTION

Commissioner Franz is expected to announce a decision at any time. Don't wait to make your voice heard.

SHARE THIS ACTION

Commissioner Franz is required by law to make a decision that is in the best interest of the public. Share this important action alert with others who want to help protect and recover wild salmon and the health of Puget Sound.

Send an Email to Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz

STEP 1: Fill out the form with your contact information.

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Address, line 1*

City*

State*

Zip Code*

I'd like to receive updates from Wild Fish Cosnervancy.

Organization Name
ORG ADDRESS LINE 1 ORG ADDRESS LINE 2 | Org City, Org State Org Zip
ORG CONTACT PHONE | Org Email

Send Commissioner Franz an Email & Tweet

STEP 2: Write & send an email to Commissioner Franz

Below is an email we've drafted to make it as easy as possible to contact Commissioner Franz about this issue.

We strongly encourage you to add at least 1-2 sentences to this email message sharing your unique perspective. This might include how you would benefit from these waters being restored and returned to the public or how the consequences of commercial net pens have directly affected you.

These types of personal messages are the most powerful and will help demonstrate to Commissioner Franz the diverse ways which commercial net pen aquaculture has harmed ecologically, economically, and culturally harmed our region.

STEP 3: Send a Tweet to Commissioner Franz

After you send your email, you'll be prompted to send a tweet directly to Commissioner Franz. This action will help to draw more public attention to this pivotal decision and important opportunity to help protect Puget Sound.

Please note, you do NOT need to add a salutation or an email signature. The intro 'Dear Commissioner Franz' and your signature (name and address) will be automatically populated and added to the email sent after you press 'Send Email'.

Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz is a publicly elected official who leads the Washington Department of Natural Resources and is deciding whether to issue new decade long leases to the commercial net pen industry.

Subject: Please Make the Right Decision, End Commercial Net Pens and Restore Puget Sound

Message:

I’m writing to respectfully urge you not to extend, renew, or reissue leases for commercial net pen aquaculture in Puget Sound. Puget Sound net pens are harming threatened and endangered wild salmon, steelhead, and other protected fish, as well as their critical habitats. Through rampant daily pollution, viral and disease outbreaks, and catastrophic escape events these facilities undermine the public’s investment in wild salmon and orca recovery, Tribal Nation food security, and the overall health of Puget Sound. You alone hold the power to eliminate this harm. Please act in the public’s best interest by deciding to restore these polluted sites to their natural state and by allowing the public to access and enjoy over 130 acres of Puget Sound that have been restricted for over thirty years. These public waters are of great cultural, ecological, and economic value to the public. Please make the right decision for wild salmon, orcas, Puget Sound, and future generations.