Salish Sea report, first of its kind in over 25 years, cites environmental decline

Western Washington University’s Salish Sea Institute released its State of the Salish Sea report, the first of its kind in over 25 years – and the results aren’t great.

The 275-page report published in May shows a declining health in the marine ecosystem that spans 4,600 miles in coastline between Washington and B.C.

“Report authors and contributors illustrate the Salish Sea is under relentless pressure from an accelerating convergence of global and local environmental stressors and the cumulative impacts of 150 years of development and alteration of our watersheds and seascape,” according to a media release on the report.

Climate change and human impact, in a place that went from only being the home of Coast Salish tribes and First Nations 200 years ago to supporting nearly 9 million people now, are the two biggest causes for environmental decline, the report outlines. To mitigate the negative impacts, the report’s researchers point to strong collaboration between cross-border governments and individuals.

Kathryn Sobocinski, WWU assistant professor of environmental studies, led the report with over 20 contributors. The Shared Waters Report, the last report of this extent, was published in 1994.

To read the State of the Salish Sea report, visit the Salish Sea Institute’s website at wp.wwu.edu/salishsea.