Good news! After nearly four decades and untold environmental devastation, commercial net-pen fish farming has been officially banned in Washington State.
As wild fish populations collapse from overfishing, the use of unsanitary and cruel fish farms is rapidly growing. In fact, nearly half of all the fish people eat come from fish farms, like the one shown in a 2020 Mercy For Animals investigation.
Washington’s decision to ban this practice aligns with similar actions taken in California and Alaska. Meanwhile, British Columbia has announced plans to phase out all net-pen farms by 2029. In Washington, the ban garnered widespread support from over 180 organizations, with the Wild Fish Conservancy collecting 3,000 signatures in favor of the move. Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz shared:
Avoiding impacts is our legal and moral responsibility. … I ask why did we ever allow this. … I am asking the board to learn from the past and the effects of our decision.
In 2017, a massive net-pen collapse near Washington’s Cypress Island dumped more than 250,000 Atlantic salmon into Puget Sound. An investigation found Cooke Aquaculture, the owner of the pens, guilty of negligence.Â
While Washington currently has no net pens, the farms have left behind a scarred seafloor that will need additional work to clean.
Fish Factory Farms
The move to ban net-pen fish farming is good for both the environment and animals. At these operations, fish are raised in enclosures that hold thousands of fish at a time. These animals suffer extreme stress in overcrowded conditions with poor water quality. And like cow, pig, and chicken factory farms, fish farms have become hot spots for drug-resistant bacteria and the spread of diseases.
While the ban is a step in the right direction, we can all take a stand for fish in our own lives simply by leaving them off our plates. Get started today by checking out these delicious vegan fish seafood recipes, and make sure to download our FREE How to Eat Veg guide.
