Defend Wild Salmon
Wild Salmon are the beating heart of the Pacific Northwest, and sadly now this heart is failing. Chinook salmon populations are at an all-time low in the Pacific, from California to Alaska. This species, the largest of the Pacific salmon, has evolved over millennia to nourish the unique and diverse wildlife of the Pacific, especially the iconic Southern Resident killer whales. Continued habitat loss, damming of rivers, overfishing, and pollution, means that if we don’t act, we will loose wild salmon and the species that depend on them forever.
You can defend Wild Salmon by making considered choices as consumers, and by supporting recovery and restoration of essential Wild Salmon habitat. If we fail to defend Wild Salmon, we’ll have committed the Southern Resident killer whales to extinction.
There are many consumer guides to choosing ocean-friendly seafood. Some give a green light to eating Chinook salmon, especially from Alaska. However, we know that Chinook salmon is a wide-ranging species, and will travel thousands of miles in the Pacific Ocean. Studies by the Pacific Salmon Commission indicate that salmon destined to return to rivers that replenish the Salish Sea will be caught by distant fisheries, and so reduce salmon populations in these vital spring and summer fishing grounds of the Southern Resident killer whales.
Consider taking a break from consuming salmon. If you do consume salmon, purchase from fisheries conducted near or in the river of orgin and avoid caught in mixed open fisheries.
For these reasons, we suggest you find an alternative to Chinook salmon until such times as wild populations are restored and sustainable.
Your voice can truly make a difference. Did you know, elected officials are obliged to count all letters and calls? Take a look at our sample letters and phone scripts to get you started, and if you adapt to make it personal, it will carry more weight, even more so if you mail it.
Defend Wild Rivers
Wild Rivers are the lifeblood of the Pacific Ocean, nurturing new generations of Wild Salmon until they migrate out to sea, and years later swim back upstream to spawn and die where they hatched. Nutrient-rich salmon fertilize streams flowing into Wild Rivers, supporting ecosystems from inland rainforests to Wild Seas. Our rivers are under strain from industrial and commercial exploitation so that they can no longer support Wild Salmon or function as Wild River systems should.
You can defend Wild Rivers by supporting the protection, restoration, and clean-up of urban and rural streams, rivers and watersheds, and by removing dams. By defending Wild Rivers we defend Southern Resident killer whales from starvation.
Your voice can truly make a difference. Did you know, elected officials are obliged to count all letters and calls? Take a look at our sample letters and phone scripts to get you started, and if you adapt to make it personal, it will carry more weight, even more so if you mail it.
Defend Wild Seas
A healthy ocean needs to offer plentiful food, habitat and protection to a whole host of marine life, from microscopic plankton to large whales. Wild Seas should be self-sustaining, with a diverse community of wildlife, rich in abundant and healthy species thriving in unpolluted waters. Instead, our waters are suffering from overfishing, pollution, toxins, habitat destruction, vessel noise and climate change.
You can defend Wild Seas by supporting habitat protections for Southern Resident killer whales in their entire feeding grounds from Vancouver Island, Canada to Monterey, California. Also, by asking fisheries managers to ensure that a share of Chinook salmon is available to these whales. When you defend Wild Seas, you defend against the loss an iconic culture of Wild Killer Whales.
Your voice can truly make a difference. Elected leaders are obliged to take notice of all petitions, public comments and correspondence they receive. By taking action today you can defend our Wild Seas and and save endangered Southern Resident killer whales from extinction.