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Sea lions that prey on migrating salmon pass their behavior to other sea lions. A study suggests that to be more effective, sea lion removals should have begun earlier. Read More . . .
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After nearly disappearing from Puget Sound, harbor porpoises rebounded-- a remarkable ‘comeback’, although there is no full understanding of why they declined and how the species recovered. Read More . . .
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Now, all sablefish landings will be recorded with electronic fish tickets. This replaces long-used paper tickets and makes harvest data quickly available to fishery managers and law enforcement. Read More . . .
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NOAA seeks public comments on a petition calling for a whale protection zone for highly endangered Southern Resident killer whales on the west side of Washington’s San Juan Island in Puget Sound. Read More . . .
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Acidification of seawater as it absorbs increasing amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere will reverberate through the marine food web, but not necessarily in the ways you might expect. Read More . . .
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a broad array of saltwater bays, islands, and peninsulas carved by prehistoric glaciers. It supports diverse marine life, including salmon and steelhead, Southern Resident killer whales, rockfish, marine mammals, and shellfish. NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region works to conserve and protect each of these marine resources and their habitats.
Columbia & Snake Rivers
The Columbia River Basin drains more than 258,000 square miles and together with its largest tributary, the Snake River, is home to salmon and steelhead, Pacific eulachon, and green sturgeon. NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region works to conserve and protect each of these species and their habitats throughout the basin.
Willamette River Basin
The Willamette River Basin is the largest watershed in Oregon, covering more than 11,500 square miles and 13 major tributaries that support salmon and steelhead runs. NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region works to conserve and protect each of these species and their habitats throughout the basin.
Northern California
Covering a diverse geography that includes the Klamath and Trinity River Basins and the San Francisco Bay Delta, Northern California’s rivers support salmon and steelhead, Pacific eulachon, and green sturgeon. NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region works to conserve and protect each of these species and their habitats throughout this region.
Central Valley
California’s Central Valley covers roughly 22,500 square miles and includes two major river systems that are home to salmon, steelhead, and green sturgeon—the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region works to conserve and protect each of these species and their habitats throughout the valley.
Southern California
With a dense population of more than 21 million people, Southern California includes diverse landscapes and habitats that also support marine mammals, sea turtles, steelhead, and abalone. The region also supports economically significant commercial and recreational fisheries. NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region works to conserve and protect each of these resources.
What's New
- 01/17/2017
- NOAA Fisheries has completed a review of fish hatcheries on the Columbia River, clearing the way for distribution funds under the federal Mitchell Act.
- 01/12/2017
- NMFS received a petition to establish a whale protection zone in Puget Sound supporting recovery of endangered Southern Resident killer whales. NMFS requests and will consider all comments and information. Comments must be received by April 13, 2017.
- 01/10/2017
- NMFS proposes to issue a 3 year permit authorizing the incidental take of two ESA-listed marine mammal species protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Comments must be received by February 9, 2007.
- 12/14/2016
- NOAA Fisheries released a recovery plan for Oregon Coast coho salmon positioning the coho for possible removal from listing as an endangered species within the next 10 years.
- 11/23/2016
- New Groundfish fisheries requirements: electronic fish tickets; joint registration & sablefish permit exemptions. Effective Dec 23rd. Electronic fish ticket requirements effective Jan 1st.
- 10/21/2016
- Informed by our 5-year reviews, NOAA Fisheries announced a proposal to update the descriptions of salmon and steelhead listed under the ESA.