2026 MRC Conference Agenda

Overview

 

November 6-7, 2026 

Northwest Maritime Center, Port Townsend, Jefferson County 

Shared Waters, Shared Future: Collaborative Stewardship in the Salish Sea 

Please note there may be adjustments made before the event. 

Day 1, Friday November 6, 2026 

Time
Topic
8:45 – 9:45 AM
Early Registration for Science Advisory Committee Workshop Attendees
Pre-registration required
9:45 – 11:15 AM
Science Advisory Committee Workshop
10:30 – 11:30 AM
General Registration Opens
11:30 – 12:30 PM
Welcome and Opening Plenary

Jamie Stephens, NW Straits Commission Chair and Lucas Hart, NW Straits Commission Director 
Loni Greninger, Vice Chairwoman Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe 
Adam Bernbaum, State Representative for District 24 
Catalina Amórtegui, Office of Senator Patty Murray 
12:30 – 1:30 PM
Network and Nourishment
Grab lunch, talk with fellow attendees, and enjoy the 2026 slideshow.
We encourage you to find someone new to introduce yourself to!
1:30 – 4:30 PM
MRC Collaborative Networking Session
This interactive session puts Marine Resources Committees (MRCs) front and center, presenting projects, cross-pollinating and collaborating. We’ll kick things off with a Lightning Round, where each MRC will have 4–8 minutes to present a high-level overview of their projects. We’ll then transition into a table rotation segment where you’ll get the chance to dive deeper with each MRC’s project in small-group discussions, finishing with reflection share-outs.
4:30 – 6:00 PM
Self-Directed Social Hour
Check into your rooms and enjoy a break. Please be back promptly for dinner.
6:00 PM
Dinner
6:30 – 6:45 PM
Environmental Leadership Award
6:45 – 7:30 PM
Keynote Speaker Dr. Phil Levin
A conservation scientist with a passion for actionable science, Phil works across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial systems to develop tools that support equitable and sustainable environmental decision-making. He leads interdisciplinary efforts to connect science, policy and community priorities.

 

 

Day 2, Saturday November 7, 2026  - DRAFT

Time
Topic
8:00 – 8:45 AM
Coffee Social
Coffee, tea and light pastries will be provided.
8:45 – 9:00 AM
Welcome and Orientation to Day 2
9:00 – 10:10 AM

Macro Scale: System-Wide Recovery of Puget Sound & Salish Sea
This session will orient participants to the big-picture landscape of their local work. Starting with an overview: “State of the Salish Sea – What the System Is Telling Us”, followed by three short context talks and a panel.

Speaker and Moderator: Kathryn Sobocinski, Western Washington University 

Speakers and Panelists: Cecilia Gobin, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission; Mindy Roberts, Puget Sound Partnership; Chelsea Korbulic, Washington Sea Grant Coastal Resilience Fellow with the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe 
10:10 – 10:25 AM
Break
10:25 – 12:00 PM

Meso Scale: Social-Ecological Pathways to Recovery 
This middle scale highlights strategy for a selection of ecosystem pathways that drive regional recovery. Experts will speak on how the pathways work, what the latest science is telling us, and where the most meaningful opportunities to contribute are.

Speakers: David Trimbach, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; Jason Toft, University of Washington;Tarang Khangaonkar; University of Washington Tacoma; Hansi Hals, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe 
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Lunch and Ongoing Discussion
1:00 – 1:50 PM
Micro Scale: Boots at Ground-Level
This collaborative session creates space for MRC members to explore ideas, connect insights from the morning’s talks, and imagine how those ideas could inspire their specific local work.
1:50 – 2:10 PM
Reflections and Closing
2:10 PM
Adjourn