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New Presentations from Scientists Abundantly Demonstrate Impacts of Puget Sound Aquaculture
These presentations were given before the Pierce County Hearings Examiner in September, 2014. Jim Johannessen, Coastal Geologic Services, Inc. — Coastal Geomorphology and Coastal Geology Analysis of Proposed Haley (Taylor Shellfish, Seattle Shellfish) Geoduck Farm, Pierce County, WA Jim Brennen, Marine Habitat Specialist at University of Washington – Assessment of Known, Apparent, and Likely Impacts Associated with Geoduck Mariculture, with Emphasis on the Proposed Haley Shellfish...
Read MoreBainbridge Citizens Stand Up to WA Dept of Ecology
Bainbridge SMP Aquaculture Challenged The Washington State Department of Ecology has substituted greatly weakened regulations on commercial aquaculture in the Bainbridge Island Shoreline Master Program update. After four years of work by citizens, the city’s Planning Commission and City Council, the Department of Ecology required changes in the SMP to allow industrial aquaculture on almost 100% of the island’s shorelines. A group of concerned Bainbridge Island residents thinks this is not right. Bainbridge Island community members are the first shoreline community to appeal Ecology’s overreach. Here is a powerful and informative presentation they have produced. You...
Read MoreInside Bainbridge Article: “Aquaculture Arrives on Bainbridge: Potential Environmental Disaster or Economic Boon?”
The website insidebainbridge.com published an article on September 9, 2014, entitled, “Aquaculture Arrives on Bainbridge: Potential Environmental Disaster or Economic Boon?” Read the article
Read MoreShellfish Initiative Attacks Our Tidelands
Shellfish Initiative Attacks our Tidelands, Clean Water Act and Public Health Read WA Shellfish Initiative documents here. Washington tidelands are under covert attack by the shellfish industry as they implement the industry created State Shellfish Initiative supported by Governor Inslee. This 2011 initiative, intended to subvert our constitutional rights, silences citizen’s concerns and limits the right to litigate as industry takes over our shorelines for industrial aquaculture use. The U.S. Dept of Commerce/NOAA marched in at the request of industry to facilitate unlimited expansion sprinkled with minimal restoration. The plan includes “incentives/rewards”...
Read MoreEelgrass Must Be Protected
Citizens File Petition with the Intent To Sue To Stop Washington Seagrass Eradication The Coalition To Protect Puget Sound Habitat has filed an administrative Rule-Making to Amend Petition with the Governors Office requesting that Jay Inslee take the necessary action to direct the State Weed Board to initiate rule-making to delete Zostera japonica (Japanese Eelgrass) as a Class C Noxious Weed. Despite objections from numerous scientists, citizens, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources, the Weed Board’s Class C Noxious Weed listing includes all Washington waters including Puget Sound. Zostera japonica was listed as a...
Read MoreSHB Overturns Geoduck Aquaculture Permit
The Shorelines Hearings Board for the State of Washington overturned the Pierce County Hearings Board decision allowing geoduck aquaculture. (“Piece County’s issuance of SSDP No. 35-05 is REVERSED and the permit is therefore DENIED”). The permit was denied by the Board based on a lack of analysis of ecosystem services, cumulative impacts and other issues such as impacts on other human uses of the waterfront. The burden of proof is now on the industry to demonstrate that geoduck aquaculture does not have cumulative impacts and does not impede ecosystem services. The Board concluded that “This farm located on a shoreline of statewide significance...
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