Contact: Josh Weiss, Legislative/Legal Affairs Coordinator (360) 902-2226

Situation

Currently WDFW has regulatory authority over finfish aquaculture in matters related to disease control. The Department of Ecology has authority over water quality issues related to aquaculture facilities, and the Department of Agriculture has authority to market "private sector cultured aquatic products." However, there is no regulatory oversight for other issues related to finfish aquaculture management, including prevention of escapes, and oversight of what species or stocks of finfish are reared in marine net pens.

Problem

In recent years large numbers of non-native Atlantic salmon have escaped from net pens, raising concerns about the impacts of the escaped fish on native stocks. At the same time, the federal government seeks to increase the United States aquaculture industry by 50% over the next decade. The risks of further net pen aquaculture escapes is expected to increase in coming years as the industry grows.

Proposal

The Department seeks to reestablish the authority over marine finfish aquaculture which WDFW had prior to 1985, and provide the monetary resources to properly manage the marine finfish industry. Major provisions of the legislation would include rule making authority in the following areas:

1. Prevention of escapes
2. Recapture of escapees
3. Approving species and stocks of finfish
4. Eradication of escapees found in the wild
5. Development with industry involvement of a code of practice
6. Development of an Atlantic Salmon Watch Program patterned after one that currently exists in British Columbia
7. Development of an extension and education program for marine finfish facilities.

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