Advocacy

Press Releases

Environmental Advocates Sue Again to Protect Wild Salmon, Steelhead, and Orcas from Harmful Columbia River Hatcheries, as Feds Concede New Management Plan is Inadequate

After years of warnings and repeated Endangered Species Act violations, Wild Fish Conservancy and The Conservation Angler have filed a new federal lawsuit challenging NOAA Fisheries for once again failing to protect these species from ongoing harm caused by Columbia River hatcheries.

December 1, 2025 No Comments

News & Announcements

Good Statistics, Flawed System: A Deeper Look at Salmon Management for Oregon Coast Coho

Read Wild Fish Conservancy’s recent comments on the management of Oregon Coast coho salmon.

November 19, 2025 No Comments

News & Announcements

How a Petition to Protect Native Resident Trout from Harvest May Actually Lead to Increased Harvest Opportunities on Vulnerable Populations

Here’s how Wild Fish Conservancy is working to ensure the Washington Fish & Wildlife Department’s Resident Native Trout Harvest Management Policy doesn’t harm imperiled native resident trout.

September 16, 2025 No Comments

Press Releases

Conservation Advocates Serve Notice of Intent to Sue Over Feds Continued Failure to Protect Wild Salmon, Steelhead, and Orcas from Harmful Columbia River Hatcheries

Contacts:Emma Helverson, Wild Fish Conservancy, 484-788-1174, emma@wildfishconservancy.orgJohn McMillan, The Conservation Angler, 360-797-3215, john.mcmillan@theconservationangler.orgBrian Knutsen, Kampmeier & Knutsen PLLC, 503-841-6515, brian@kampmeierknutsen.com For Immediate ReleaseSeptember 12, 2025PDF

September 12, 2025 No Comments

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

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

News & Announcements

Court Recommends Halting Alaska’s Unsustainable Harvest to Protect Wild Chinook and Southern Resident Killer Whales

In a massive international and coast-wide decision for wild Chinook and Southern Resident killer whale recovery, Seattle’s federal Court issued a landmark opinion on Tuesday that recommends terminating unsustainable commercial salmon harvest that has persisted for decades until new environmental reviews of those fisheries occur.

December 16, 2022 8 Comments

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

WE DID IT! DNR Denies New Net Pen Leases In Historic Victory For Wild Salmon, Orcas, & The Health Of Puget Sound

WE DID IT! Commercial net pens are leaving Puget Sound for good.

November 15, 2022 No Comments

News & Announcements

Net Pen Decision Leads to Historic Victory for Wild Salmon, Orcas, and the Health of Puget Sound

Washington state denies new leases for Cooke Aquaculture, effectively ending net pen aquaculture in Puget Sound.

November 15, 2022 4 Comments

Press Releases

A Second Court Rejects Cooke Aquaculture’s Challenge Over Termination of Port Angeles Net Pen Lease

Media Contacts: Kurt Beardslee, Executive Director, 206-310-9301, kurt@wildfishconservancy.org Emma Helverson, Director of Communications, 484-788-1174, emma@wildfishconservancy.org DECEMBER 17, 2021—In another legal defeat for Cooke

January 6, 2022 No Comments

News & Announcements

Oregon Commits to New Water Typing Rules

As a part of a Landmark deal reached on the Oregon Private Forest Accords, Oregon committed to updating the state’s Forest Practices Act- and the

November 4, 2021 No Comments

News & Announcements

WFC In the News: WFC Science Director Discusses Congress’ Proposed Catastrophic Hatchery Funding

Listen to today’s interview with WFC Director of Science Jamie Glasgow on KGMI News/ Talk 790 radio about the released proposed reconciliation bill that revealed Congress is on track to make the largest investment in northwest hatchery infrastructure on record that could cause irreparable damage to wild fish populations and to endangered Southern Resident killer whales.

November 1, 2021 No Comments

Press Releases

Congress on Track to Approve Catastrophic Investment in Northwest Hatcheries, Undermining Wild Salmon Recovery

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives released text of the draft reconciliation bill revealing Congress is on track to make the largest investment in northwest hatchery infrastructure on record that could cause irreparable damage to wild fish populations and to endangered Southern Resident killer whales.

November 1, 2021 No Comments

News & Announcements

Rep. Simpson’s Concept for the Lower Snake River Dams & Environmental Justice

Proposal would breach the four lower Snake River dams at the cost of suspending bedrock environmental laws and exposing communities across the Columbia River basin

October 22, 2021 No Comments

Press Releases

Conservation Groups Challenge Washington’s Artificial “Fix” to Southern Resident Killer Whale and Salmon Recovery

This week, conservation organizations Wild Fish Conservancy and The Conservation Angler filed suit against the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for its repeated refusal to follow state environmental laws when setting statewide hatchery policy.

October 13, 2021 No Comments

Press Releases

Federal Court Finds NOAA’s Harvest Mitigation Proposal Violated Endangered Species Act Protections for Wild Chinook and Southern Resident Killer Whales

A groundbreaking new ruling from the federal court in Seattle is calling into question the continuation of decades of unsustainable commercial salmon harvest in Southeast Alaska.

September 29, 2021 1 Comment

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