Washington-based seafood processor fined for wastewater violations

South Bend Products, based in South Bend, Washington, U.S.A., has been fined USD 33,000 (EUR 30,000) for dozens of wastewater violations by the U.S. State of Washington’s Department of Ecology.

South Bend Products, part of the Northern Fish Products company that runs a handful of seafood businesses in the state, is permitted to discharge wastewater from its operation into the Willapa River within certain parameters. In reviewing the company’s 2022 wastewater discharge reports, Department of Ecology inspectors discovered four major violations. According to the state, South Bend Products reported inaccurate wastewater numbers, with the lab failing to report some numbers, and the company misplacing decimal points on others.

The Department of Ecology also claims to have discovered “dozens of small violations” but did not elaborate on what those violations were.

“The Willapa River contains wetlands and is close to open marine water. The area is popular for recreation and is home to numerous species of fish and shorebirds,” the department said in a statement. “Excess effluent from seafood processing can harm aquatic life and reduce water quality.”

South Bend Products has 30 days to appeal the department’s fines. If the company does end up making payments, the money will go to Washington’s Coastal Protection Fund, a program that provides grants for water quality restoration initiatives.

This is the first seafood company fined by the state for wastewater violations in 2023, although the department issued fines to two companies in 2022.

In April 2022, the department fined Pacific Seafood USD 123,000 (EUR 112,000) for 49 wastewater violations at its Half Moon Bay facility between April 2020 and November 2021. According to the state, the company “released wastewater containing fecal coliform, grease, oils, and other solids above the amounts allowed in its permit” and did not monitor several discharges it was required to. The company reached a settlement with the department to pay USD 92,000 (EUR 84,000), with the state dropping the remaining fines if Pacific Seafood could go a year without another violation at the facility.

In February 2022, Safe Coast Seafoods was fined USD 69,000 (EUR 63,000) for ongoing water quality violations at its Port of Ilwaco seafood processing facility. According to the state, the company exceeded its effluent discharge limits for six straight months in 2021 and failed to file reports for two other months.

“During March through August high levels of chlorine, E. coli, and pH were reported 21 times, exceeding the permitted limits,” the state said in a statement. “In addition, samples were analyzed for Fecal Coliform, but reported as E. coli in reports from March through July.”

The company blamed the issue on malfunctioning pumps and said repairs were made.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock / Sam's photography000