Context

In the Face of Significant Salmon Decline, A Thorough Understanding of Underlying Issues is Critical to Recovery

The interaction between salmon and the Salish Sea is complex, and effective management requires a considerably more detailed and complete understanding of how salmon are affected by the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the marine environment than is currently available.

To improve our understanding of and focus on salmon marine survival in the Salish Sea, a group of US and Canadian scientists and fisheries managers suggested a broader, more coordinated, collaborative effort, including U.S. and Canadian scientists, managers, and stakeholders is necessary.

Why the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project is Needed Now

As financial resources tighten, the need increases to collaborate more effectively and utilize funding more efficiently to address the areas of most significant apparent consequence to the salmon resource.

This work also addresses needs identified in various federal, state and tribal salmon and southern resident killer whale resource management and recovery plans, and, more broadly, in contemporary ecosystem-based management initiatives like the Puget Sound Partnership now being applied to the Salish Sea.