Cooke Aquaculture Drops Appeal of Canceled Net Pen Leases
Seafood company Cooke Aquaculture Pacific has dropped its appeal of DNR’s cancelation of its net pen leases at Rich Passage and Hope Island, Washington state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced March 15.
Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz announced the appeal’s dismissal, saying state residents should remember this day as “truly the end of dangerous and destructive net pens in the state.
“Cooke Aquaculture has finally realized that its fight to continue to put our waters and salmon at risk was futile. And as the courtroom battles and corporate tantrums fade away, we’re left with a Washington with cleaner waters, stronger habitats, and healthier salmon,” Franz said.
This was the final chapter in a story that began Aug. 19, 2017, when 300,000 Atla...