The Washington State Board of Natural Resources has voted 4-0, with two abstentions, to approve a ban on commercial net pen aquaculture.
The January 7 decision has drawn strong criticism from the Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA), which argues that the move is not supported by science and will have negative economic implications.
“At a time when tariffs threaten to raise the prices of imported seafood and grocery costs remain high, this vote takes away an important and affordable source of protein that can be sustainably grown in our own waters,” said NWAA President Jim Parsons.
Parsons, who is also CEO of Jamestown Seafood, claimed the decision ignored “hundreds of pages of thoughtful testimony” from aquaculture experts, fisheries scientists, and others. He added, “The January 7 decision sets a dangerous precedent that should serve as a warning to anyone in the business of growing food in this state on leased land—be it producers of shellfish, apples, grapes, or beef—that the Department of Natural Resources could shutter any business or sector that the Commissioner of Public Lands doesn’t like.”
Political Motives Alleged
The NWAA attributed the timing of the vote to political considerations. Parsons alleged that outgoing Governor Jay Inslee pushed for the Board to finalize the ban before his term ends.
NWAA Executive Director Jeanne McKnight also criticized Commissioner Hilary Franz, Chair of the Board, for what she called a rushed process.
“Franz insisted on rushing the rule-making process so that the Board could vote on the proposed ban in its January 7 meeting, largely to appease her supporters—which we view as short-sighted and politically motivated,” she said.
McKnight further noted that Franz “deprived the Board of the ability to thoughtfully deliberate and review the enormous body of peer-reviewed science in the record. Had they done so, they would not have voted for this unsupportable ban.”
Industry Impact
The ban is expected to have significant implications for Washington’s aquaculture sector, which has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years. Proponents of the measure argue that it addresses environmental and ecological concerns, while critics, such as the NWAA, see it as a threat to food security and the broader agricultural economy.
The decision underscores growing tensions between regulatory authorities and industry stakeholders over sustainable food production in the state. Further legal and political challenges are anticipated as the implications of the ban unfold.
