It happened again, second time in three years, so don't be suprised if you net a fish this summer and it turns out to be an Atlantic Salmon. An estimated 100,000 escaped Sunday during extreme tides from pens operated in Bremerton by Northwest Seafarms. The same facility-different name.

In the Everett Hearald wrote that it was the net pens on Bainbridge Island straight across from Seattle. Yesterdays paper.

they are in seattle at elliot bay pier (pier 86)
people have been cathcing them yesterday and today.
they are jumping all over the place by the terminal grainery.

they are in seattle at elliot bay pier (pier 86)
people have been cathcing them yesterday and today.
they are jumping all over the place by the terminal grainery.

FACT SHEET
WASHINGTON DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091

June 14, 1999
Contact: Contact: Kevin Amos, (360) 902-2656 or Tim Flint, (360) 902-2728


Atlantic Salmon Escape


About 100,000 Atlantic salmon escaped June 13 from Northwest Seafarms aquaculture net pens off the southwest tip of Bainbridge Island. The fish were accidentally released when large steel rings holding the net rearing pens to mooring buoys broke under extreme tides.

Each of the escaped fish weighs 2 to 9 pounds.

The escaped fish are expected to disperse quickly both north and south due to strong currents in the area and extreme tides.

Recreational salmon fishing is currently open in Marine Area 11 and 13 (South Puget Sound; south of a line running east from Southworth ferry dock) but salmon fishing is not currently open in Marine Area 10 where the escape occurred. Recreational salmon fishing will not open in Area 10 until July 1, and gear restrictions will apply. Salmon fishing in Area 10 is closed now because of the need to protect federally protected chinook salmon.

There is no limit on Atlantic salmon harvest in areas open to salmon fishing, but if limits have been caught on other salmon species then fishing must stop and no additional Atlantics may be kept.

Atlantic salmon, a non-native species, are distinguishable from other salmon species by a few large, round black spots on their cheekbones.

Atlantic salmon intercepted by Department biologists are killed so the fish can be tested for evidence of disease, predation, and sexual maturity. While aquaculture operations must register with WDFW, the Washington Department of Ecology (DOE) regulates aquaculture operations through its discharge permitting process.
Return to WDFW Home Page