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NORTHWEST STRAITS INITIATIVE


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Senate approves funding for NW Straits and whale research

Two thumbs up for NW Straits Initiative

posted 04/07/04
PRESS RELEASE: An initiative that has improved the marine environment of northern Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca was unanimously recommended for extension and expansion April 6, 2004 by a national panel of experts.

The Congressionally mandated panel praised the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative for implementing effective projects that are helping restore the marine ecosystem.

"They have used local ideas and sound science to come up with useful, effective accomplishments," said Bill Ruckelshaus, a former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency director who chaired the evaluation panel. "The degree of cooperation this process has engendered among tribes, state, county and municipal government bodes extremely well for future progress."

The Northwest Straits Initiative was praised in the panel's report for initiating projects that improve the marine habitat and protect salmon, bottom fish, shellfish and other marine resources. According to the report, their innovative projects have removed many miles of derelict fishing nets and hundreds of derelict crab pots that were needlessly harming marine life, planted hundreds of thousands of oysters to increase harvestable areas and raise awareness of water quality problems, and helped shoreline land owners manage their property for better marine habitat and wildlife viewing through the Shore Stewards program.

The Northwest Straits Initiative was created through the efforts of U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and former U.S. Rep. Jack Metcalf, R-Wash. Because of the innovative nature of the program, Congress mandated that a thorough and independent evaluation be conducted before the initiative is considered for reauthorization.

Senator Murray, who has remained active on behalf of the initiative, said, "This is exactly the type of grassroots, collaborative effort needed to restore salmon and other declining fisheries while improving Washington's pristine coastline. This community-wide effort continues to illustrate the tremendous results that can be achieved when we work together to solve environmental problems."

Governor Locke was also congratulatory. "We are glad to see the positive evaluation of the Northwest Straits Commission by the panel. The Commission has accomplished a lot in the past few years, and I am confident that the Commission will continue with its excellent work," he said.

The initiative is driven by county-based Marine Resources Committees (MRCs), composed of local representatives from the scientific community, local and tribal governments and economic, recreational and conservation interests. MRCs propose and carry out local projects, advise county government on issues that might affect the marine environment, and work with the other participating counties to gain a wider regional impact. They are active in Clallam, Island, Jefferson, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties.

The initiative is overseen by a commission that helps coordinate the county efforts and link them to the work of state, tribal, and federal governments and other related efforts.

The panel found that this coordination and cooperation has been well established so that both good ideas and good science can be blended at the local and state level to get good results for commercial, recreational, conservation, tribal and others interests who are concerned about the marine waters of the state.

Tom Cowan, director of the Northwest Straits Commission, said, "It's exciting to see confirmation of this citizen-driven model and the important work that has been accomplished."

The Evaluation Panel was appointed by Mr. Ruckelshaus and was drawn from experts in the Northwest and throughout the country on marine conservation. Panel members were:

  • Dr. Alyn Duxbury, University of Washington

  • Dr. James Good, Oregon State University

  • Dr. Daniel Huppert, University of Washington

  • Dr. DeWitt John, Bowdoin College

  • Dr. Steven Rumrill, South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve

  • Ann Seiter, Former Director of Natural Resources, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe

  • Dr. Edward Weber, Washington State University.

The panel was staffed by the newly established Policy Consensus Center, a joint effort of University of Washington and Washington State University, which provides services and research to resolve conflicts and promote collaboration concerning environmental and other policy issues.

For more information about the Northwest Straits Initiative, call 360-428-1084 or go to www.nwstraits.org.

Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Projects by County

CLALLAM COUNTY

Public workshops

Forage fish spawning survey Forage fish maps

Kelp habitat study

Green crab monitoring

PSP monitoring

Derelict gear survey

Derelict gear removal

Olympia oyster seeding

Newspaper inserts

ISLAND COUNTY

Homeowner eelgrass survey

Eelgrass inventory

Eelgrass mapping

Shoreline features mapping

Forage fish spawning survey

Forage fish maps

Shore stewards program

Spartina digging events

Cama Beach restoration

JEFFERSON COUNTY

Emergency response workshop

Marine resources bibliography

Literature review

Public workshops

MPA brochure

Technical meetings

Newspaper inserts

Olympia oyster seeding

Olympia oyster signage

Priority habitat study

Forage fish spawning survey

Forage fish maps

Fish surveys

No-anchor zone

SAN JUAN COUNTY

Bottomfish recovery
zone outreach

Bottomfish recovery
zone monitoring

Forage fish survey protocols

Forage fish spawning survey

Forage fish maps

Transboundary agreement on MPA

Whale-watching guidelines

Whale-watching workshop

Marine stewardship workshops

Rockfish workshop

SKAGIT COUNTY

Bottomfish project
phase I

Bottomfish project
phase II

Spartina digging events

Olympia oyster seeding

Rapid shoreline inventory

Derelict fishing gear outreach

Forage fish spawning survey

Forage fish maps

Pacific oyster seeding

Nearshore restoration blueprint

SNOHOMISH COUNTY

Marine shoreline overflights

Beach expos

Crab stewardship plan

Fact sheets

Shoreline inventory

Forage fish spawning survey

Forage fish maps

Nearshore restoration blueprint

Marine observation cruise with Remote Operated Vessel (ROV)

Kayak Point restoration

Shoreline restoration incentives

WHATCOM COUNTY

Marine summits

Marine resource data report

Nearshore session at Salmon conference

Rapid shoreline inventory

Creosote log inventory and removal

Forage fish spawning survey

Forage fish maps

Forage fish video

Nuisance species survey

Marine life fact sheets

Draft resolution on net pens

Bottomfish project

Marine data map series

NORTHWEST STRAITS COMMISSION

Data Gaps workshop

Show Me the Data workshop

Marine protected area report

Nearshore habitat database

Derelict fishing gear removal

Derelict fishing gear outreach

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