Associated Press
SEATTLE — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has directed the Department of Ecology to put on hold any new permits for salmon farm net pens after thousands of Atlantic salmon escaped earlier this month.
State officials also announced Saturday the formation of a response team comprised of the departments of Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife, and Ecology. The team also includes the Office of the Governor and state Emergency Management Division.
It’s not yet clear how many non-native Atlantic salmon escaped into Puget Sound from Canada-based Cooke Aquaculture’s salmon farm off Cypress Island.
Officials say the pens held about 305,000 fish.
Anglers are being urged to catch as many of the escaped salmon as possible.
Some of the fish weigh up to 10 pounds.
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