Submitted by Washington Department of Ecology

Without water quality protections in place, Cooke Aquaculture Pacific, also known as Cooke, has repeatedly cleaned dirty equipment and discharged polluted wastewater into Puget Sound. Cooke operates commercial Atlantic salmon net pens in Washington state.

A penalty was issued for violations at Cooke’s commercial net pen facility in Rich Passage near Bainbridge Island and is not related to the net pen collapse at their facility near Cypress Island, which occurred last August. The state is currently investigating that incident, which happened near the San Juans. About half of the 305,000 fish from that collapsed pen are thought to have escaped.

Ecology has been directing Cooke to fix water quality violations at their dock on Bainbridge Island near their net pen facility in Rich Passage since the agency began receiving citizen complaints in August 2016.

As a result, the Washington Department of Ecology issued Cooke an $8,000 penalty for violating state law. It is illegal to pressure wash or repair equipment, boats, nets, docks, vehicles, etc. over the water. In addition to the penalty, Cooke is required to immediately stop allowing pressure washing wastewater to enter Puget Sound.

This fine comes after Ecology sent two warning letters, issued a notice of violation, and requested that the company fix the violations on many occasions.

Cooke is specifically being penalized for:

· Unlawfully discharging polluting matter into state waters.

· Pressure washing equipment, nets, and vehicles over the water and allowing wastewater to enter Puget Sound.

· Changing boat engine oil over the water.

· Failing to put safeguards in place to protect water quality.

· Failing to correct water quality violations when directed.

Download the penalty and administrative order for specific details.

Ecology investigates reports of pollution from citizens. Members of the public can report pollution or environmental spills to Ecology online.