Program Structure

 

The Salish Sea Marine Survival Project is an effort of unique scope, scale, and international significance. Formal planning between LLTK and PSF began in 2012. A majority of the research took place between 2014 and 2018, with field, laboratory, and modeling studies conducted by over 200 scientists and technicians from federal, state, tribal, academic, and nonprofit institutions in both countries. As individual studies reached publication between 2017 and 2019, the project partners began translating the results of the research into management actions, leading to the publication of the Synthesis Report in 2021.

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U.S. and Canadian, multi-disciplinary technical teams working on each side of the border to develop, implement and/or review the research. The teams ensured within-nation collaboration across disciplines and responsible parties.

Members of each technical team also participated in transboundary workgroups to refine and implement the activities identified in the project areas requiring significant transboundary collaboration.

Task teams that have U.S., Canadian, or U.S.-Canadian representation were established as needed for specific efforts – for example, a task team focused specifically on steelhead marine survival in Puget Sound.

Higher up, U.S. and Canadian steering committees ensured the project and its funding are administered appropriately. They also maintained the project as a priority for the partners involved, helped coordinate the effort with other initiatives, and tied the research to management.

Dozens of science and technical staff and volunteers supported the research activities, in the field and in labs.

LLTK and PSF coordinated the effort, established its funding mechanisms, maintained outreach and communications, and are helping to translate the research results into management actions.

Communication, data sharing, and public and stakeholder engagement are an essential hallmark of the SSMSP’s methodology, and key to understanding the Salish Sea as a connected ecosystem. During planning and research phases, participants coordinated within-activity communications and data management and shared research plans, protocols, and results among activities to continuously align work. As the Project moves to management actions, ongoing monitoring, and future studies, comprehensive data management tools provide a lasting infrastructure for analysis.