Marine Species at Risk
This indicator describes changes in listings or designation of marine species at risk in the Puget Sound Georgia Basin. The species listed are native to this area and their populations have decreased so dramatically they are at risk or, in some cases, threatened with extinction.

What are we doing about it?

Public Sector Strategies

Federal, provincial/state and local governments all have a vested interest in protecting species at risk. Strategies generally fall into the following categories:

• Scientific assessments, including monitoring and surveys (COSEWIC)
  
• Recovery and Management Planning by public agencies and to partners through grant programs
  
• Land Acquisition by public agencies as well as private landowners, farmers, community groups and non-profit organizations through tax incentive programs

Canada-US Framework General Public Policy

In 1997, Canada and the US, through Environment Canada and the US Department of the Interior, signed a framework to characterize research and cooperate on species at risk issues. This includes:

• Exchanging information and technical expertise regarding the conservation of species at risk and their habitat
  
• Promoting development and implementation of joint or multi-national recovery plans for species identified as endangered or threatened;
  
• Encouraging expanded and more effective partnerships between the public sector, territorial aboriginal and tribal governments, and the private sector (individuals, conservation groups, corporations, etc.) in recovery efforts; and
  
• Creating greater public awareness and involvement regarding the need to conserve wildlife populations and the ecosystems on which they depend, and to prevent the loss of shared species.³⁰

Canadian Coordination

The Species at Risk Act (SARA) became effective on June 1, 2004, and with its passage created a nationwide network of partners at all levels. As part of the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk, federal, provincial and territorial governments agreed to coordinate activities by creating the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council. Canada's Stewardship Agenda encourages a landscape approach to protect habitat and provides funding for projects that support habitat conservation and stewardship.

National strategies include:

The following links may provide helpful information and are located outside the EPA.gov domain.

• National Recovery Program,³¹ including RENEW, Recovery of Nationally Endangered Wildlife Program
• Canada /British Columbia agreement on Species at Risk³²
• Federal Habitat Stewardship Program (for communities, non-profit organizations and private businesses that use funding for restoration)³³
  
• Ecological Gifts Program (donate land for conservation in exchange for tax breaks)
  
• Endangered Species Recovery Fund (administered by Environment Canada and the World Wildlife Fund/Canada)
  
• The Forest Practices Code of British Columbia Act
  
• Protected Areas Strategy
  
• Ecological Reserve Act
  
• Fish Protection Act

U.S. Federal Programs

Endangered species are managed by the U. S. Department of the Interior through the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administation (NOAA Fisheries) shares in this administration. Under the ESA, the following strategies are used:

• Directs all federal agencies to use existing authorities to conserve listed species and ensure their actions do not jeopardize the survival of listed species
  
• Recovery Plans³⁴
  
• Federal agency consultation with FWS
  
• Designation of critical habitat
  
• Implements international treaty, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
  
• Habitat Conservation Plans that balance development with species conservation³⁵

Regional Efforts in the Puget Sound Georgia Basin

BC ranks species according to a risk of extinction and labeled either red, blue or yellow. The Wildlife Act protects all vertebrate animals from direct harm and legal designation may confer special protection for selected blue and red-listed species, their residences or their critical habitat.³⁶

Presently only four species are legally designated by British Columbia at this time: Vancouver Island Marmot, American white pelican, Burrowing Owl and the Sea Otter. While the provincial government of BC does not assess marine fishes and invertebrates the federal government has a variety of legislative and management tools – predominantly administered by Environment Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada – to address the special management requirements of marine species at risk.

Washington lists species under state law.³⁷ Under state law, recovery plans are required. The state does not require critical habitat designation or agency consultation. Many public agencies in Washington have some responsibility for fish, wildlife and habitat protection on public lands which constitute 40 percent all state lands. The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) manages over 30,000 acres of public lands in Puget Sound.

Strategies include:

• Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, in which lands can be acquired including critical habitat, urban habitat and natural areas
  
• Salmon Recovery Funding Board
  
• Trust Land Transfer Program
  
• Aquatic Lands Enhancement Account
  
• Compacts with California, Idaho and Oregon for salmon protection
  
• Priority Habitat and Species Program
  
• For agricultural lands, the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife offers incentives through the Upland Wildlife Restoration Program to protect and restore wetlands.

Habitat Acquisition and Partnerships with Private Landowners and Communities

Species at risk migrate between publicly and privately owned lands, the latter of which constitute the majority of land in the Puget Sound Georgia Basin. This is why the suite of conservation tools has become so important in the protection and recovery of species at risk. Conservation Tools include:

• Habitat Acquisition and Land Trusts: Habitat is and can be acquired by the Washington Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish & Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy and local land trusts in which land is purchased, donated or traded; or placed under a conservation easement (WA) or conservation covenant (BC).³⁸ In Washington, land can be acquired through The Wildlife and Recreation Lands Management Account, which provide financing for habitat acquisition.
• Tax Incentives: The Public Benefit Rating System (PBRS) provides tax deductions for private landowners who protect their land, or a portion of their land, for conservation and open space. The reduction in taxable value ranges from 50-90 percent of the portion of the property placed in the PBRS.³⁹
• Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (WA): Conservation Districts facilitate this federal-state partnership that provides opportunities for landowners to rent their streamside land under 10-15 year contracts. Up to 100 percent cost sharing is also available for tree and shrub planting.
• Natural Resources Conservation Service Wetland Reserve, or Farm and Ranchland Protection Program: Landowners can place eligible lands in a permanent or 30-year easement and receive financial assistance. Two Wildlife and Environmental Quality Incentive programs offer similar assistance.
• Forest Stewardship: Manage forest land in a manner that optimizes habitat, economic returns and community interests through the Forest Stewardship Council and Northwest Certified Forestry.⁴⁰

Learn more at the Washington State University Extension's Stewardship and Conservation Tools Program

 

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