Salish Sea Marine Survival Project

In 2013, the Pacific Salmon Foundation (PSF) and Long Live the Kings (LLTK) launched the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project (SSMSP): a US-Canada research collaboration to identify the primary factors affecting the survival of juvenile Chinook, Coho, and steelhead in the Salish Sea marine environment. From 2014-2018, this international collaborative of over 60 federal, state, tribal, nonprofit, academic, and private entities implemented a coordinated research effort that encompassed all major hypothesized impacts on Chinook, Coho, and steelhead as they entered and transited the Salish Sea.

Ultimately, several hundred scientists collaborated to implement over 90 studies. Some of the research continues today. This report synthesizes the work to date and provides our perspectives regarding the primary factors affecting survival and the next steps in research and management. While the findings represent important progress towards understanding salmon in the Salish Sea ecosystem, our understanding will undoubtedly continue to evolve. In this vein, we treat this report as a living document to be updated over time. Link to findings: https://marinesurvivalproject.com/research-findings.