The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) has launched a fundraising campaign to overturn the unlawful ban on commercial net pens in Washington state’s marine waters, the organization has announced. The campaign […]
Jeanne McKnight
NWAA Files Suit Against Washington Department of Natural Resources’ Unlawful Ban on Commercial Net Pens
February 27, 2025–The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) today announced it has filed a lawsuit against the state’s Department of Natural Resources for its unlawful ban on commercial net pens in […]
NWAA Statement: Commercial Fish Farm Ban in Washington State Not Supported by Science
On January 7, 2025, the six-person Washington state Board of Natural Resources voted 4-0 with two members abstaining to uphold the proposed rule banning commercial net pens in Washington state. […]
NWAA Names Jim Parsons as 2024 Winner of its Lifetime Achievement Award
The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) has awarded its president, Jamestown Seafood CEO, James E. (Jim) Parsons, with the organization’s prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award” for his career-long contributions to the global […]
NWAA Seeks Correction to Falsehood by Canadian Government Official; Expresses solidarity with the BCSFA
On Wednesday, June 19, the Government of Canada issued its long-awaited announcement on the extension of BC Salmon Aquaculture Licenses. In response, the Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) has issued the […]
NWAA Announces Lifetime Achievement and Aquaculture Champion Awards
Covington, WA—The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance has announced its “Lifetime Achievement Award” winners for 2023. Sharing the honors this year are two Pacific Northwest aquaculture industry veterans from Cooke Aquaculture Pacific: […]
Washington State’s Commercial Net Pen Ban “Has No Legal Effect,” Court Says; Commissioner’s Order Ruled as “An Internal Policy Directive” — Not a Ban
Olympia, Washington – During the October 20, 2023, Summary Judgment Hearing in the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe-Northwest Aquaculture Alliance’s (NWAA) complaint against the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Thurston County […]
Farming native fish in the Salish Sea can be done safely, responsibly
By W. Ron Allen – Special to the Seattle Times August 30, 2023 As chairman/CEO of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, I must correct the record about the environmental viability and […]
NWAA Statement on Hilary Franz “celebration” of the death of a sustainable industry
May 23, 2023–Today, a handful of supporters of Public Lands Commissioner-turned-Gubernatorial candidate, Hilary Franz, gathered on Bainbridge Island to “Celebrate the Removal of Puget Sound’s net pens” alongside the 501c3 […]
Court Rules in Favor of NWAA, Allowing the Alliance to Join the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s Lawsuit against Washington DNR for Shutting Down Fish Farming on State Aquatic Lands
BREAKING NEWS – May 19, 2023 Covington, Washington—The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA), with the steadfast support of the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, today won the right to intervene on behalf its […]
TROUTLODGE GENERAL MANAGER, CLAUDIO CERDA, JOINS NORTHWEST AQUACULTURE ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Covington, WA—The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) today announced that Claudio R. Cerda has joined its 14-person Board of Directors. Cerda currently serves as General Manager of Bonney Lake, Washington-based Troutlodge, the […]
NWAA Launches Grassroots Campaign Spotlighting Damage Done by DNR Commissioner Hilary Franz’s Decision to End Commercial Net Pens in Washington
In a new campaign launched on March 16, Washington fish farming workers, who have grown affordable, high-quality fish in Puget Sound for over 40 years, are speaking out for the […]
NATIONAL AND STATE TRADE ASSOCIATIONS CHALLENGE FRANZ DECISION
On December 7, a group of leading national and state trade associations sent a letter to Washington Public Lands Commissioner, Hilary Franz, denouncing her political decision to terminate the leases […]
NWAA TO PUBLIC LANDS COMMISSIONER FRANZ: YOU GOT IT WRONG!
Just four days after she announced that she would not renew Cooke Aquaculture’s fish farming leases, Washington state Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz held a press conference where, flanked by […]
Leading US Seafood Industry Trade Groups Call for Independent Review of Washington DNR Decision
In response to the November 14 announcement that the State of Washington’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will not renew the leases for Cooke Aquaculture Pacific’s steelhead farms in Washington […]
Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation Announces Winners of Inaugural Scholarship Award
Gig Harbor, WA–The Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation (KGASF) today announced that it has awarded its first-ever aquaculture scholarships to three students—two representing US Tribes and one representing one of […]
CARGILL EXECUTIVE, SEBASTIAN PERVERSI, JOINS NORTHWEST AQUACULTURE ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) today announced the appointment of Sebastian Perversi, North America Commercial Director for Cargill Aquaculture & Nutrition, to its Board of Directors. A 19-year Cargill veteran, […]
JACKIE ZIMMERMAN JOINS NORTHWEST AQUACULTURE ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) today announced the appointment of Jacqueline (Jackie) Zimmerman, National Account Manager for North American Aquaculture at Merck Animal Health, to its Board of Directors. Prior […]
NWAA Names Dr. Conrad VW Mahnken (1937-2021) as Recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award
Covington, WA (August 25, 2022)—In recognition of his significant contribution to the conservation and restoration of endangered salmon populations, as well as his efforts toward the responsible development of marine […]
NWAA Reaction to New Anti-Aquaculture Book: “A Rehash of Old Claims”
Covington, Wash.— The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) is an organization of industry leading companies from Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Alaska, who are engaged in the responsible production of aquatic […]
CANADIAN FEDERAL COURT RULING: “THE COURTS ARE PAYING ATTENTION TO SCIENCE”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 27, 2022 Covington, Washington—On April 22, Canada’s Federal Court ruled that the cancellation of fish farm leases in the Discovery Islands in British Columbia not only […]
Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation Announces Directors and Officers
Gig Harbor, WA—(March 31, 2022) The Kurt Grinnell Aquaculture Scholarship Foundation, an organization established in 2021 to carry on the legacy of the late Kurt Grinnell, today announced its inaugural […]
INNOVASEA SYSTEMS EXECUTIVE, LANGLEY GACE, JOINS NORTHWEST AQUACULTURE ALLIANCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
March 17, 2022–The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) today announced the appointment of Innovasea Systems Inc. Senior Vice President, Langley Gace, to its Board of Directors. Gace, a Bainbridge Island, Washington, […]
NOAA Biological Opinion Concludes Marine Finfish Aquaculture Has No Adverse Impact on Native or Endangered Species in Puget Sound
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service has released a biological opinion regarding marine finfish aquaculture in Puget Sound, finding little to no negative impact on native species such as endangered salmon, […]
Washington Supreme Court upholds Cooke Aquaculture steelhead farming permit
By ANA Staff January 14, 2022–The Washington State Supreme Court has unanimously ruled (9-0) to uphold the company’s permit to farm Pacific Steelhead trout after a group of environmental organizations […]
UBC salmon virus study challenged by global experts
A week after grabbing headlines with their sensational claims to bolster anti-salmon farming activism in Canada, researchers who claimed that the PRV virus spread from aquaculture operations into wild fish, […]
BLUE OCEAN MARICULTURE CEO, DICK JONES, JOINS NWAA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) today announced the appointment of seafood industry leader and Blue Ocean Mariculture CEO, Dick Jones, to its 11-member Board of Directors. Kona, Hawaii-based Blue Ocean […]
Activists correct their fishy science about salmon virus
By Fabian Dawson SeaWestNews A group of anti-salmon farm activists in BC have quietly corrected their study which suggested wild stocks exposed to marine aquaculture sites have much higher rates […]
Cooke Aquaculture gets key permits for steelhead transition in Washington
By Cliff White – SeafoodSource Washington’s Department of Ecology has revised four water quality permits to Cooke Aquaculture to farm steelhead in net-pens it formerly used to raise Atlantic salmon. […]
Washington okays fish farms using science, rejects activism
By Fabian Dawson SeaWestNews Cooke Aquaculture, a Canadian seafood farmer, has been given permission to raise Steelhead at four of its sites previously used to raise Atlantic salmon in Washington […]
NWAA Applauds the Washington Dept. of Ecology for Giving the Green Light to Cooke Aquaculture Pacific to Raise Steelhead
January 6, 2021– The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA), a leading voice for responsible aquaculture in the Pacific Northwest, applauds the State of Washington Department of Ecology for making a science-based […]
NWAA Issues Challenge to Patagonia and WFC for their “No Net Pens” Campaign
Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) sent an invitation and a challenge to the billion-dollar outdoor gear and clothing manufacturer “to engage with our organization and our scientists to learn the real […]
NWAA challenges Patagonia to “Engage with us” to learn about aquaculture
October 27, 2020—Patagonia, a billion-dollar, privately held, multi-national corporation founded in 1973 and based in Ventura, California, manufactures and sells high-end outdoor clothing made largely from synthetic materials. Recently, the […]
A NEW ERA FOR AQUACULTURE
America hails a new era for aquaculture
ECOLOGY COMMENT PERIOD NOW OPEN: NWAA FACT SHEET ON PERMIT MODIFICATION
SITUATION The Washington State Department of Ecology (ECY) is currently evaluating the request by Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA) member, Cooke Aquaculture Pacific (CAP), to modify its existing permits to allow […]
REGARDING ACTIVIST LAWSUIT: “Activist Organizations ‘Out of Touch’ with Science”
For Immediate Release February 12, 2020 NORTHWEST AQUACULTURE ALLIANCE STATEMENT REGARDING ACTIVIST LAWSUIT: “Activist Organizations ‘Out of Touch’ with Science” The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA), a leading voice for responsible […]
SCIENTIFIC REVIEW SHOWS CHILDREN CAN GAIN AN AVERAGE OF 7.7 FULL IQ POINTS
A new paper published by a group of 13 leading dietary fats scientists highlights the tremendous health benefits from consuming seafood for infant and adolescent brain development. Among the key […]
Aquaculture Alliance Commends WDFW
Aquaculture Alliance Commends WDFW for Approving Cooke Aquaculture and Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe’s Permit to Raise Rainbow Trout in Puget Sound:“We are one step closer to becoming a ‘Blue Economy’” Covington, […]
A steelhead smolt sensation
Magic Valley steelhead hatcheries rear over 5 million steelhead smolts each year to provide fishing opportunity to anglers…
Undercurrent News
Don’t look for North America’s largest seafood restaurant chain to put any plant-based seafood alternatives on the menu any time soon…
Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe partnering with Cooke Aquaculture Pacific for Northwest native species farm
October 3, 2019 – Sequim, WA – The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is pleased to announce a joint venture with Cooke Aquaculture Pacific. The joint venture will initially work to rear […]
Aquaculture Group Applauds WDFW for Fish Farm Proposal
Covington, WA, October 3, 2019–The Northwest Aquaculture Alliance (NWAA), the leading trade association representing aquaculture producers and support businesses in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and British Columbia, today applauded the […]