Action Alert: We Need Your Help to Permanently Ban Commercial Net Pens in WA & Prevent this Dangerous Industry from Returning

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We Need Your Help to Permanently Ban Commercial Net Pen Aquaculture in Puget Sound

What You Need to Know

In 2022, Washington’s Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz heroically rejected applications from seafood giant Cooke Aquaculture to continue leasing and operating their commercial net pens in Puget Sound. At the same time, she issued a new executive order prohibiting commercial net pen aquaculture in Washington marine waters. Together these actions resulted in the complete removal of commercial net pens in Washington, making 2024 the first year in four decades Puget Sound is free from this polluting and damaging industry.

Now, Washington is poised to permanently adopt the executive order banning the commercial operation of net pens and become the first place in the world to successfully remove and permanently ban this industry from ever returning.

On January 7, 2025, the six-member Board of Natural Resources, chaired by Washington’s Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz, will cast a crucial vote on the proposed rule, that if approved, will cement the order into statute, preventing these facilities from returning and ensuring the protection of Puget Sound for future generations.

Cooke Aquaculture and their allies are doing everything they can to influence the upcoming vote in a desperate attempt to return this polluting industry to Puget Sound.

We’ve come too far to let corporate interests undermine the incredible progress we’ve worked so hard to achieve. It’s time to work together one final time to ensure Puget Sound continues to be protected far into the future. Learn More in our latest news post.

Make Your Voice Heard by Sending an Email to the Board of Natural Resources

We've made it as easy as possible for you to take this action. When you fill out the form below we'll make sure your email gets to the members of the Board of Natural Resources and is also submitted as an official public comment in the rulemaking process.

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

First Name*

Last Name*

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Email Address*

Address, line 1*

City*

State*

Zip Code*

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Our Sound, Our Salmon is a campaign facilitated by Wild Fish Conservancy.

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Email the Board of Natural Resources

STEP 2: Send an Email to the Board of Natural Resources

Below is an email we've drafted to make it as easy as possible to contact the Board of Natural Resources and to include your comment as part of the official rulemaking process.

We strongly encourage you to add at least 1-2 sentences to this email message sharing your unique perspective on why you support the executive order banning industrial net pen aquaculture in Washington state waters.

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

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

The Board of Natural Resources, Chaired by Commissioner Hilary Franz, sets policies to guide how the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) manages our state’s lands and resources.

Subject: Please vote to permanently ban commercial net pen aquaculture in Puget Sound

Message:

I'm writing to urge you to approve the proposed rule to permanently ban commercial net pen aquaculture in Washington’s marine waters. I strongly support Commissioner Hilary Franz's decision to remove all commercial net pens from Puget Sound. In 2024, Puget Sound is free from the daily pollution and damage caused by this industry for the first time in over forty years. I urge you to permanently prohibit this practice to ensure Puget Sound will continue to be protected for current and future generations. Puget Sound and its ecosystems represent a finite resource of great social, cultural, and economic value and I am counting on you to protect this irreplaceable public heritage. As Board Members, you are entrusted with overseeing DNR’s mission to protect our environment, uphold Tribal treaty rights, and promote responsible stewardship. By adopting this rule, you will reinforce DNR’s leadership in preserving Washington’s public waters and resources for the benefit of all residents and Tribes. Please follow Commissioner Franz's lead and make the right choice for wild salmon, orcas, tribal rights, Puget Sound, and the well-being of future generations. By voting to ban commercial net pen aquaculture you are guaranteeing the public that Washington’s iconic wild salmon, Tribal food security and cultural practices, and the natural beauty and ecological integrity of Puget Sound will be protected for future generations.

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Organization Name
ORG ADDRESS LINE 1 ORG ADDRESS LINE 2 | Org City, Org State Org Zip
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Make Your Voice Heard by Sending an Email to the Board of Natural Resources

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