Hope Island fish pen lease canceled

The Washington state Department of Natural Resources has ended the two remaining net pen aquaculture leases on state-owned aquatic lands.

DNR officials informed Cooke Aquaculture Monday that the two expired leases will not be renewed for their aquaculture facilities off Hope Island in Skagit Bay and in Rich Passage off Bainbridge Island.

The company has until Dec. 14 to finish operations and begin removing its facilities and repair any environmental damage.

The Hope Island lease expired in March and has been in month-to-month holdover status since. The Rich Passage lease expired in November.

Source: WA DNR