A7
THE ASTORIAN • TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2019
Company aims to farm steelhead
following Atlantic salmon escape
By EVAN BUSH
Seattle Times
SEATTLE — Last month, a net pen used
for fi sh farming and operated by Cooke
Aquaculture Pacifi c began to dip below the
surface off Bainbridge Island.
A hole in a pontoon left the structure’s
southeast corner partially submerged.
Repairs were eventually made.
But now as Cooke seeks to farm steel-
head trout — instead of the nonnative Atlan-
tic salmon that state law will soon ban —
the incident has caught the attention of state
regulators.
The events recalled the hectic summer of
2017, when hundreds of thousands of Atlan-
tic salmon escaped a similar Cooke structure
in the Salish Sea. Tribal fi shers described it
as a “devastation.” Wildlife offi cials called
for open season on escapees. The state’s
Department of Natural Resources eventually
terminated some Cooke leases and its ecol-
ogy department fi ned the company $332,000
over water-quality violations, before the
state Legislature in March 2018 voted to
phase out the farming of nonnative fi sh —
including Atlantic salmon — in Washington
waters.
No fi sh escaped from the pen last month,
according to Joe Smillie, a spokesman for
DNR. The site still hosts Atlantic salmon,
but they were in pens unaffected by the leak.
Divers repaired a dime-sized hole in the pon-
toon. The DNR is investigating.
For critics, however, the partially sub-
merged pen was pink meat in their fi ght over
fi sh farming.
“Risky business,” said Kurt Beardslee, of
the Wild Fish Conservancy.
“They’re interfering in our fi shing areas,”
said Merle Jefferson, executive director
of the Lummi Nation’s Natural Resources
Department, adding that Cooke was lucky to
have avoided another escape.
Cooke must cease raising Atlantic salmon
here in 2022. The Washington Department
of Fish and Wildlife last month proposed
to issue a fi ve-year aquaculture permit to
Cooke for steelhead. The proposal is out for
public comment through Nov. 22.
As the company pivots, opponents say
it faces an uphill battle to gain public trust.
The WDFW proposal represents Cooke’s
fi rst attempt to convince regulators it can put
its troubled past behind and continue farm-
ing here.
Cooke has applied to raise mostly sterile
steelhead, or seafaring rainbow trout, in fl oat-
ing net pens at seven sites in Washington.
A Pierce County company, Troutlodge,
would supply only female fi sh eggs. Eggs
would be subjected to pressure to force them
to retain a third set of chromosomes, mak-
ing the fi sh triploid and sterile. Troutlodge
claims a 99.83% sterilization rate, accord-
ing to environmental documents Cooke fi led
with WDFW.
Captive triploid steelhead are often
shaped like footballs, with smaller heads and
stout bodies, the documents say.
As with Atlantic salmon, Cooke plans to
feed the fi sh with pellets in open-air pens.
The steelhead would take about 12 to 18
months to grow before they are harvested at
a target weight of 7 to 9 pounds.
Cooke needs more permits to begin
operations.
At some sites, Cooke would require new
aquatic lands leases from the DNR. Cooke
is suing over DNR’s cancellation of its
Port Angeles lease. DNR also cancelled its
Cypress Island lease.
Cooke must amend water-quality per-
mits with the state Department of Ecol-
ogy to refl ect the proposed change of spe-
cies. In addition, the company needs another
WDFW permit every time it seeks to move
fi sh from hatcheries to pens, said Ken War-
heit, supervisor of fi sh health and molecular
genetics for the state.
The company declined comment.
Cooke’s critics have many concerns.
Beardslee said viruses, parasites and dis-
eases could be amplifi ed by dense groups
of net-pen fi sh and spread to free-swim-
ming populations of trout and salmon. He
questions the structural integrity of Cooke’s
OBITUARIES
Solveig Dorothy Rynning Clark
pens and worries fi sh could escape en masse
again, interbreed with wild steelhead and put
“thousands of years of genetic diversity we
have at stake.” Beardslee compared net-pen
pollution to a ranch where “cattle are poop-
ing right into the water.”
Fish farming should not be allowed in
Puget Sound where we’re “spending hun-
dreds of millions of dollars” to clean up, he
said.
“The only way you can stop these from
being a threat to the surrounding environ-
ment is to move them on land.”
Beardslee said WDFW should complete
a lengthy, detailed environmental impact
statement for Cooke’s proposal, rather than
merely updating the 1990 document that
originally allowed fi sh farming.
Warheit said risks to trout stocks in the
natural environment would be low and could
be largely mitigated with measures required
by the agency.
Cooke’s pens must be inspected by struc-
tural engineers every two years by law, War-
heit said.
“If we feel the net pens do not have struc-
tural integrity, we will not permit fi sh in
those net pens,” Warheit said. The agency
would consider the leaky pontoon incident
as it weighs a fi nal decision on the proposal.
He said Cooke’s fi sh would be tested and
vaccinated for IHN, a virus that could affect
free-swimming steelhead and salmon, and
other viral pathogens, too. Local sourcing of
native eggs removes many concerns about
introducing new pathogens to Salish Sea
steelhead, he said.
Escaped captive steelhead would face
challenging hurdles to reproduction, Warheit
said.
Of escapees, just 0.2% would be fertile,
he said, adding that the triploid fi sh would
be less able to survive in the natural environ-
ment because of their captive upbringing.
“These fi sh have had no experience.
No idea how to eat natural food. In many
respects, that could have been bred out of
them,” he said.
The fi sh would likely need to survive for
several months, or perhaps a year, to reach
sexual maturity. Then, they would need to
migrate into a freshwater system during a
steelhead run, dig a redd, or a nest for eggs,
and be discovered by a fertilizing male.
“I can’t say it’s impossible. Nothing’s
impossible, but the risk is extremely low,”
Warheit said.
Independent scientists backed much of
Warheit’s analysis.
Andrew Dittman, a research fi sheries
biologist for Northwest Fisheries Science
Center, said using triploid fi sh was a com-
mon and largely effective process for main-
taining a sterile population.
However, he cast doubt on Cooke’s sug-
gestions that farmed fi sh would struggle to
fi nd spawning grounds, saying studies on the
topic have produced mixed results.
“I wouldn’t necessarily assume they’re
just going to sit in Puget Sound and do noth-
ing,” Dittman said.
Rachel Breyta, a viral and molecular epi-
demiologist at the University of Washing-
ton’s School of Aquatic and Fishery Sci-
ences, said a trout-specifi c form of the deadly
IHN virus has never reached Puget Sound.
“This is the major risk associated with
farming steelhead in Puget Sound,” Breyta
said. “If fi sh or eggs have that virus or move
to Puget Sound without testing or check-
ing, it could introduce that pathogen into the
water in a naive system.”
The virus kills juvenile trout and has no
treatment after disease begins.
But Breyta said the vaccine for IHN is
effective. Careful management and state reg-
ulation “can bring the risk down very low.”
If an infectious epidemic were discov-
ered, what marine fi sh farms typically do is
cull the entire infected population to prevent
“amplifi cation” of the virus in a dense group-
ing of fi sh, Breyta said. In an epidemic infec-
tion, “all populations would be at risk of seri-
ous mortality now and in the future.”
In other words: The risk is low, but conse-
quences could be severe.
Viruses can evolve rapidly and will
require careful monitoring, Breyta added.
SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
TODAY
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
Astoria
Feb. 28, 1924 — Oct. 27, 2019
Solveig Dorothy Rynning Clark, age of her death.
She was a member of the Choristers
95, died Oct. 27, 2019.
Solveig was born in La Crosse, Wis- Guild and American Guild of Organists.
When asked to described her
consin, on Feb. 28, 1924, the
calling, she would say it was to
second of six children born to
accompany other musicians, both
Rolf Rynning and Sadie (Rue)
vocalists and instrumentalists,
Rynning.
and help them bring out the best
Solveig was raised in La
in their performance.
Crosse. She was baptized and
She loved to travel, and took
confi rmed in the Lutheran
several trips abroad with Fory,
Faith. She was active in Luther
and later with her daughter, Cyn-
League, where she met her
thia. In the early years, the fam-
future husband, and she was a
ily traveled by car across and
Girl Scout.
Solveig Clark
around much of the U.S. and Can-
After graduating from Cen-
ada. Unfortunately for mom, that
tral High School in June 1941,
she went on to attend St. Olaf College in meant tent camping, which was not on her
Northfi eld, Minnesota, where she gradu- list of favorite things.
A talented woman, she enjoyed knit-
ated with highest honors.
Music was a major part in Solveig’s ting intricately detailed sweaters, and
life. Starting at age 4, she would sit on the sewing almost anything from pajamas to
fl oor and listen to her older sister’s piano tailored suit coats.
She was looking forward to going
lesson. After the lesson was over, she
would climb up on the piano bench and home to the h eavenly f ather, and to be
play by memory what had been taught to reunited with friends and family who had
gone on before.
her older sister.
Solveig was preceded in death by her
In high school, Solveig was part of a
trio with her sister, Jeannette, and good husband; a daughter, JoAnne; a grand-
friend, June Brown. The trio played all daughter, Naomi; her parents; and two
over town for civic organizations, church brothers, one who died as a young child.
She is survived by son Paul (Gogi)
functions and for a war bond rally, appear-
ing on a small stage with Gene Tierney Clark; daughter Cynthia (Stewart) Dall;
and Chester Morris. She also played for a son John (Kathy) Clark; six grandchil-
dren; and nine great-grandchildren.
local radio broadcast.
Solveig’s family offers a heartfelt
While attending St. Olaf C ollege, she
thank you to the entire staff at Clatsop
sang in the renowned St. Olaf C hoir.
Solveig married Forrest “Fory” Clark Retirement Village for your professional
Oct. 4, 1947, in La Crosse. Following and personal care, offered generously and
Fory’s ordination into the Lutheran min- lovingly to our mom.
A memorial service will be held
istry in 1950, she worked with Fory as he
served as pastor to congregations in Wis- at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, at Peace
consin, Montana, Washington and Ore- Lutheran Church, 565 12th St. in Astoria.
gon. They moved to Astoria, Oregon, in A reception will follow the service at the
1975, where she lived the rest of her life. church.
Memorial contributions can be sent
She directed children, junior and
senior choirs, as well as specialty groups. to: the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
Solveig particularly enjoyed directing her America Hunger Fund, ELCA Gift Pro-
cessing Center, P.O. Box 1809, Merrifi eld,
men’s choral groups.
A skilled musician, she played both VA., 22116-8009; and the Lutheran Indian
piano and pipe organ for her local church, Ministries, 15400 W. Capitol Drive, Suite
as well as for other local churches. She 201, Brookfi eld, WI., 53005.
Please sign the online guest book at
continued to play for church services at
Clatsop Retirement Village until the time caldwellsmortuary.com
OBITUARY POLICY
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for veterans, a fl ag symbol at no charge. The deadline for all obituaries is 9 a.m. the
business day prior.
Obituaries may be edited for spelling, proper punctuation and style. Death notices
and upcoming services will be published at no charge. Notices must be submitted by
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Obituaries and notices may be submitted online at DailyAstorian.com/forms/obits,
by email at ewilson@dailyastorian.com, placed via the funeral home or in person at
The Astorian offi ce, 949 Exchange St. in Astoria.
For more information, call 503-325-3211, ext. 257.
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REGIONAL FORECAST
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Seattle
54 37
57 42
60 43
57 47
Partly sunny Partial sunshine Mostly cloudy Mostly cloudy
58 46
58 44
Showers
possible
Showers
possible
57 42
Rain
Aberdeen
Olympia
53/41
55/42
Wenatchee
Tacoma
Moses
Lake
54/35
ALMANAC
UNDER THE SKY
TODAY'S TIDES
Astoria through Sunday
Tonight’s Sky: First quarter
moon (2:23 a.m.). Peak of the
Taurid meteor shower.
Astoria / Port Docks
Temperatures
High/low ................................ 51/45
Normal high/low .................. 56/42
Record high .................. 73 in 2010
Record low .................... 27 in 2003
Precipitation
Sunday ..................................... 0.00”
Month to date ........................ 0.00”
Normal month to date ......... 0.91”
Year to date .......................... 38.75”
Normal year to date ........... 47.13”
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2019
Time
8:19 a.m.
7:39 p.m.
6.7 1:37 a.m.
6.1 2:08 p.m.
1.2
3.4
Cape Disappointment
8:14 a.m.
7:23 p.m.
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
Hammond
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today .................. 7:01 a.m.
Sunset tonight ............... 4:56 p.m.
Moonrise today ............. 2:35 p.m.
Moonset today ...................... none
First
Full
Last
New
8:16 a.m.
7:32 p.m.
Warrenton
8:14 a.m.
7:34 p.m.
Knappa
8:56 a.m.
8:16 p.m.
Depoe Bay
Nov 4 Nov 12 Nov 19 Nov 26
7:32 a.m.
6:41 p.m.
6.2 12:55 a.m. 1.0
5.8 1:53 p.m. 3.4
6.7 1:08 a.m.
6.3 1:58 p.m.
1.1
3.5
7.1 1:21 a.m.
6.5 1:52 p.m.
1.3
3.5
6.9 2:38 a.m.
6.4 3:09 p.m.
1.0
2.9
6.9 12:25 a.m. 1.3
6.4 1:19 p.m. 4.0
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Honolulu
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York City
Phoenix
San Francisco
Wash., DC
Today
Hi/Lo/W
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
68/48/s
61/41/sh
42/30/pc
69/59/c
57/32/s
87/76/pc
78/59/pc
80/56/s
88/77/pc
60/41/r
89/66/s
70/50/s
65/41/s
70/50/s
51/40/s
47/25/c
72/59/t
50/28/s
88/74/pc
77/61/pc
77/55/s
88/78/t
53/43/s
86/62/pc
68/51/s
57/45/s
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,
c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,
r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice.
56/36
Hermiston
The Dalles 57/29
Enterprise
Pendleton 59/31
57/31
58/34
La Grande
61/30
56/36
NATIONAL CITIES
High (ft.) Time Low (ft.)
55/32
Kennewick Walla Walla
55/34 Lewiston
54/29
53/38
Salem
Pullman
56/29
Longview
54/37 Portland
57/40
51/31
Yakima 54/31
54/37
Astoria
Spokane
52/34
Corvallis
57/34
Albany
56/35
John Day
Eugene
Bend
56/34
69/32
65/34
Ontario
58/28
Caldwell
Burns
64/22
57/28
Medford
68/38
Klamath Falls
64/26
City
Baker City
Brookings
Ilwaco
Newberg
Newport
Today
Hi/Lo/W
60/24/s
62/49/pc
53/39/c
56/36/c
55/39/pc
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
56/23/pc
68/50/pc
56/45/pc
56/39/pc
56/43/pc
City
North Bend
Roseburg
Seaside
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Today
Hi/Lo/W
58/39/pc
60/39/pc
54/38/pc
57/36/pc
57/38/pc
Wed.
Hi/Lo/W
60/42/pc
62/38/pc
57/43/pc
56/35/pc
58/40/pc