Emma Helverson

Press Releases

Washington Makes History by Successfully Removing and Permanently Banning Net Pen Aquaculture, Securing Puget Sound for Future Generations

This week, we are celebrating a monumental environmental victory for Puget Sound’s ecosystems, Washington Tribal Nations, and the protection of our iconic wild salmon and Southern Resident orcas. On Tuesday, Washington State made history, becoming the first—and only—place in the world to successfully remove and permanently ban commercial net pen aquaculture.

January 9, 2025 No Comments

News & Announcements

Thanks to you, We Made History for Wild Salmon, Orcas, Tribal Food Security, and the Health of Puget Sound

This week, the WA Board of Natural Resources cast a historic vote to permanently ban commercial net pen aquaculture in Washington marine waters. Washington is the first—and only—place in the world to successfully remove and permanently ban this practice to protect public waters.

January 9, 2025 No Comments

News & Announcements

SEATTLE TIMES | OPINION: Protect WA’s waters and tribal sovereignty: Ban commercial finfish net-pen aquaculture

On behalf of the Our Sound, Our Salmon we want to extend our sincere appreciation to Chairwoman Frances Charles, Chairman Leonard Forsman, and Chairman Steve Edwards for their inspiring and compelling op-ed in today’s Seattle Times titled, ‘Protect WA’s waters and tribal sovereignty: Ban commercial finfish net-pen aquaculture.’

January 5, 2025 No Comments

News & Announcements

Washington State Poised to Set Precedent as First Government in the World to Successfully Remove and Permanently Ban Commercial Net Pen Aquaculture

Washington State recently garnered international attention for its successful removal of all polluting and hazardous commercial net pens from Puget Sound. Now, the state is on the verge of adopting a statute that would prohibit this commercial industry from ever returning to Puget Sound.

December 12, 2024 No Comments

Press Releases

Lawsuit Launched to Protect Olympic Peninsula Steelhead

The Conservation Angler and Wild Fish Conservancy recently notified the National Marine Fisheries Services of their intent to sue NMFS for failing to protect Olympic Peninsula steelhead under the federal Endangered Species Act.

November 8, 2024 No Comments

News & Announcements

Legal Settlement Reached to Protect Wild Salmon and Steelhead from Harm by Lower Columbia River Hatcheries

Learn more about a new settlement agreement that is leading to more responsible, legally compliant, and transparent management practices at the hatcheries Washington State operates in the lower Columbia River.

October 4, 2024 No Comments

Press Releases

Victory! Court Holds Unlawful Federal Government Decision That Greenlit Industrial Fish Farming in Ocean Waters

The U.S. Federal Court for the Western District of Washington ruled that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers'(Corps) approval of Nationwide Permit 56 (NWP 56)—which authorizes industrial finfish aquaculture structures in federal ocean waters around the country—was unlawful.

October 2, 2024 No Comments

News & Announcements

Joint Statement from Wild Fish Conservancy and The Conservation Angler on Mitchell Act and SAFE Hatchery program Settlement with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

WFC, The Conservation Angler, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife agree to settlement in Endangered Species Act lawsuit over lower Columbia River hatchery programs that are harming wild fish recovery.

September 26, 2024 No Comments

Press Releases

Certifier Pulls Sustainable Recommendation for Southeast Alaska Fisheries to Protect Dwindling Salmon and Endangered Orcas

In a groundbreaking decision, Canadian seafood certifier Ocean Wise announced they can no longer recommend salmon caught in Southeast Alaska fisheries as ‘sustainable’. The delisting responds to concerns over the impact of the region’s fisheries on endangered Southern Resident orcas and at-risk salmon populations from rivers coastwide.

July 16, 2024 No Comments

News & Announcements

After Chronic Decline, Feds Agree Alaskan Chinook May Require Protection under the Endangered Species Act

NOAA Fisheries announced a somber, yet significant milestone in the effort to protect dwindling Alaskan Chinook. After reviewing a formal petition to list Alaskan Chinook populations as ‘threatened’ or ‘endangered’, the federal agency has made the first ever positive finding for Alaskan-born salmon under the Endangered Species Act.

May 24, 2024 No Comments

News & Announcements

Conservation Advocates Sue Over Lower Columbia River Hatchery Programs Harming Wild Salmon and Hindering Recovery Progress

Wild Fish Conservancy and The Conservation Angler filed against federal, state, and local governments for their continued funding and operation of Mitchell Act and Select Area Fishery Enhancement (SAFE) program hatcheries that are far exceeding limits under the ESA designed to prevent extinction of imperiled wild salmon and steelhead.

April 17, 2024 No Comments

Press Releases

Conservation Advocates Serve Notice of Intent to Sue Over Columbia River Hatchery Programs Harming Wild Salmon Recovery

Today, Wild Fish Conservancy and The Conservation Angler issued a 60-day Notice of Intent to sue federal, state, and local agencies for chronic and ongoing violations of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) resulting from the Mitchell Act and SAFE program hatcheries on the Columbia River.

January 26, 2024 No Comments

Press Releases

Alaskan Chinook in Peril, A Plea for Protection under the Endangered Species Act

Wild Fish Conservancy filed a petition today calling for federal protection of Alaskan Chinook under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. This emergency action is being taken in response to the severe decline and poor condition of Chinook populations throughout the state of Alaska.

January 11, 2024 2 Comments

News & Announcements

We’re Taking Emergency Action to Protect Alaskan Chinook

Wild Fish Conservancy filed a petition calling for federal protection of Alaskan Chinook under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. This emergency action is being taken in response to the severe decline and poor condition of Chinook populations throughout the state of Alaska.

January 11, 2024 3 Comments

Wild Fish Conservancy

Frequently Asked Questions to the Petition to Designate Evolutionary Significant Units and List Alaskan Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) under the Endangered Species Act

Frequently Asked Questions on the Petition to Designate Evolutionary Significant Units and List Alaskan Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) under the Endangered Species Act

January 10, 2024 No Comments

News & Announcements

Court Rules In Favor of Short-Term Economics over Endangered Species Protections for Southern Resident Killer Whales and Wild Chinook

Top Photo: According to whale experts, orcas demonstrate a deep sense of mourning for their lost newborns, much like any devoted family would. In 2018,Tahlequah

June 24, 2023 No Comments

News & Announcements

Join Us Tomorrow on Bainbridge Island for a Press Event with Commissioner Hilary Franz to Celebrate the Removal of Puget Sound’s Net Pens

Celebrate the removal of WA’s net pens with Washington Commissioner Hilary Franz tomorrow on Bainbridge Island.

May 22, 2023 No Comments

News & Announcements

After 40 years, the Net Pen Industry is Pulling Up Anchors, Towing Away Their Net Pens, & Leaving Puget Sound Forever

All week residents across Puget Sound watched the net pen industry packing up nets, removing debris, and pulling up anchors and chains that have been holding the industry’s net pens in place for over forty years. Now, Puget Sound is only days away from being free of all commercial net pens for the first time in nearly half a century.

May 20, 2023 No Comments

Wild Fish Conservancy

WFC Legal Victory Marks Turning Point for Southern Resident Orcas and Wild Chinook

“After a hard-fought, four year legal challenge against the federal government, state of Alaska, and Alaska’s commercial fishing industry, Wild Fish Conservancy is thrilled to share a

May 7, 2023 1 Comment

News & Announcements

Washington State Makes History with Bold New Policy Ending Commercial Net Pen Aquaculture in Puget Sound

Today, Washington’s Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz made history when she announced a new groundbreaking executive order that will prohibit commercial net pen aquaculture in Washington state marine waters.

November 18, 2022 1 Comment

News & Announcements

Conservationists, Fishermen, and Tribes Sue Over Fish Farming Slated for Federal Waters

WFC is proud to be a co-plaintiff in a new lawsuit led by the Center for Food Safety challenging the federal government for authorizing a nationwide permit for industrial finfish aquaculture without environmental review of the risks.

November 15, 2022 No Comments

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