This weekend, we shared the incredible news that the enormous victory we’ve been striving for together since we launched the Our Sound, Our Salmon campaign in 2017 is finally here. We were thrilled to share that all last week, Cooke Aquaculture has been packing up their nets, pulling up anchors, and removing net pen infrastructure. 

Now, Puget Sound is only days away from being free of all commercial net pens for the first time in nearly half a century!

To celebrate this historic moment, Washington Commissioner Hilary Franz worked quickly to plan a celebratory press conference tomorrow afternoon at Bainbridge Island’s Fort Ward State Park, the same beach where she announced Washington’s new policy prohibiting commercial net pen aquaculture in Washington waters and where the Our Sound, Our Salmon flotilla protest took place back in 2017.

We recognize its short notice, but we couldn’t hold an event like this without inviting our members and supporters who made this environmental victory possible. We hope you can join us, but if you can’t make it out tomorrow, please know there will be many more opportunities to come together and celebrate this monumental accomplishment for wild fish and the health of Puget Sound!

Wild Fish Conservancy is once again honored to participate and speak at alongside Commissioner Franz and Suquamish Tribe Chairman Leonard Forsman. All are welcome to join for this celebratory press conference and a post-event celebration at Doc’s Marina Grill with Commissioner Franz and her staff to clink glasses.

Keep reading for more details on attending this event and we are looking forward to celebrating with you!

PRESS EVENT

WHERE: Bainbridge Island, Fort Ward State Park

WHEN: 11:00 am

PARKING: There is limited parking available at the park with additional parking available in the Upper Fort Ward Parking Lot. See Map below. (Google Maps Link; Apple Maps Link)

TRAIL FROM UPPER FORT WARD PARKING LOT TO PRESS EVENT LOCATION: From the Upper Fort Ward Parking Lot there is a trail that takes you down a moderate slope to the waterfront where the press conference will take place (see map below). NOTE: You need to enter ‘Upper Fort Ward Parking Lot’ into your GPS NOT ‘Fort Ward State Park’.

POST EVENT CELEBRATION

WHEN: 12:15 pm

WHERE: Doc’s Marina Grill, 403 Madison Ave S, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

RSVP: Send us an email at [email protected] if you’re planning to join us!

OTHER NOTES

FERRY SCHEDULE: WSDOT Ferry sailings from Seattle at 8:45 am, 9:35 a.m will allow you to arrive in time. (Plan for ~35-minute crossing time). See the full ferry schedule here.

This will be an outdoor event. No need to dress up, please come as you are and feel free to dress casual. Come early to ensure you have time to exit the ferry, park, and make it to the conference location from the public parking lot. 

If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected] or reach out to Emma at 484-788-1174 or Kurt at 206-310-9301.