OLYMPIA — State officials say an inspection has found maintenance issues at Cooke Aquaculture’s farmed salmon operation off Bainbridge Island.
The state Department of Natural Resources on Monday issued a default notice and gave the company 60 days to fix the problems.
Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz said in a statement that they need to make sure Cooke’s salmon farms are structurally sound given the Aug. 19 collapse at its Cypress Island facility. Tens of thousands of non-native Atlantic salmon were released into Puget Sound.
A contractor hired by DNR found issues at Cooke’s farms in Rich Passage, including a hole in netting and severe corrosion on floating piers. DNR says companies that lease state aquatic lands must maintain property in good order.
Cooke did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
