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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 . . .
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Startling a seal, coming between a mother and pup, or threatening the territory of an aggressive male can be extremely dangerous. Share the shore while observing these magnificent marine mammals. Read More . . .
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Scientists have translated their knowledge about the behavior of west coast blue whales to help protect those that feed in the busy shipping lanes off the coast of Sri Lanka. 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
- 02/13/2017
- NOAA announced that it is reconvening the Pinniped-Fishery Interaction Task Force March 1 & 2, 2017.
- 02/07/2017
- WhaleWatch - FREE Webinar on Wednesday, February 22nd. Learn how WhaleWatch estimates the location & density of blue whales off the West Coast.
- 02/02/2017
- NOAA Fisheries announces 2017-2018 harvest specifications and management measures for Pacific coast groundfish, effective February 7.
- 01/19/2017
- The White House Council on Environmental Quality accepted the draft Puget Sound Federal Action Plan. NOAA Fisheries co-chairs the regional leadership team for the Task Force.
- 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.