Looking Ahead

The Northwest Straits Initiative is a unique, bottom-up approach to solving important issues that have a direct impact on marine ecosystems, economies, and cultures. The Initiative harnesses the collaborative expertise of county Marine Resources Committees (MRCs), the Northwest Straits Initiative boards, dedicated staff, and valued partners.

“The Northwest Straits Initiative provides a framework for local people to prioritize and lead marine and shoreline conservation in a way that supports what is important to their community; as well as a regional network for collaboration and learning that drives positive impacts from the bottom up.” – Lucas Hart, Northwest Straits Commission Director

URGENT NEEDS

The Northwest Straits region of Puget Sound faces unprecedented pressure from population growth, climate change, and habitat loss. The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative seeks permanent reauthorization with an annual appropriation to continue its critical marine restoration and conservation work in support of:

Coastal resilience to climate change
Science-informed regional and local decision-making
Community-based sustainable management of marine resources
Southern Resident Killer Whale/Chinook salmon recovery
Restoration of forage fish habitat
Invasive species mitigation

Reauthorization would renew recognition of the Northwest Straits Initiative as a federal program in U.S. statute

Recognition as a federal program acknowledges the importance of the Northwest Straits Initiative as a community convener focused on marine conservation and restoration. Current federal funding is provided equally to each Marine Resources Committee through the Northwest Straits Commission. Reauthorization will help assure more predictable and longer-term federal support by authorizing Congress to appropriate funds to support the Initiative. It will assure a level of stability that will allow Northwest Straits Initiative to conduct longer-term planning.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Northwest Straits region covers 60% of Puget Sound, an Estuary of National Significance, that:

Honors tribal treaty rights
Produces the majority of Washington State’s aquaculture economic output estimated at over $150 million
Supports a $72 million shellfish aquaculture industry
Contributes to the 16,000 jobs in Washington State’s commercial and recreational fishing industries

The region includes Clallam, Island, Jefferson, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, and Whatcom Counties and their adjoining inland marine waters.

THE INITIATIVE LEVERAGES FEDERAL INVESTMENTS

Building more resilient communities and coastlines to address our changing climate by engaging local community members in monitoring beach conditions and inspiring the research of numerous students at the University of Washington and other institutions. These opportunities train future leaders in the value of collaborative research in the service of science and society.
Supporting regional and local decision-making and community-based sustainable management of marine resources through thousands and thousands of local volunteer hours that contribute directly to tackling sea level rise, oil spill response, estuary management, and numerous other emerging environmental issues.
Recovering and protecting native species including Southern Resident Killer Whale, threatened Chinook salmon and rockfish by convening state, tribal, federal, local, academic, and private partners to initiate conservation actions, and by removing derelict fishing gear to save millions of marine mammals, birds, fish, and invertebrates annually.
Recovering critical forage fish populations by restoring nearshore habitat.
Combating invasive species by aggressively trapping and removing European green crab in North Puget Sound to protect economically and culturally important native species.

History of the Initiative

RESOURCES

IN THE NEWS

Congress funds the Northwest Straits Initiative to protect and restore marine ecosystems on November 13, 1998
Historylink.org essay by Adam Sowards - November 15, 2023

Northwest Straits Initiative may be up for federal reauthorization
Skagit Valley Herald - September 14, 2023

Locals in small operation take on ‘tall order’ in marine ecosystem
Salish Current - September 22, 2023

Heron photo: Barry Troutman