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Diverse group of stakeholders unite in effort to save one of Washington’s keystone species
Billy Frank Jr. Salmon Coalition working to restore a vital part of state’s ecology, culture and way of life
SEATTLE (MARCH 18, 2024) – A new campaign from the Billy Frank Jr. Salmon Coalition calls attention to a burgeoning crisis in Washington: the status quo is not working in regard to salmon recovery. Habitat degradation, climate change, mismanagement, and other human activities have contributed to the fact that many of the state’s salmon runs have declined to near extinction and all are threatened. Additionally, research shows 70% of endangered or threatened salmon and steelhead populations are not keeping pace with recovery goals.
In response to this issue, a diverse coalition of tribal leaders, environmental scientists, local and state officials, recreational fisherman, attorneys, conservation groups and Pacific Northwest industries are working together as part of the Billy Frank Jr. Salmon Coalition to support science-backed solutions that will revive the state’s dwindling salmon population.
The coalition is named in honor of late Nisqually tribal member and nationally recognized leader and salmon activist Billy Frank Jr., who is known for bringing together diverse groups of experts and harnessing their collective strength to advocate for salmon and the environment.
“We are out of time. We used to fish for seven months of the year and now we are down to just 12 days,” said Willie Frank III, Nisqually tribe chairman and son of Billy Frank Jr. “The good news is that salmon respond to positive action, and they do so quickly. We have solutions available, but we need everyone in Washington to help us make collaborative change on a scale that will fix this problem before it is too late.”
The politics of Washington’s salmon issue are complex, with opposing viewpoints from groups that are sometimes at odds with one another. The Billy Frank Jr. Salmon Coalition is unique in that these stakeholders have all come together, rallied by the urgent need to preserve the salmon population.
“This is the time to set aside differences and campaign for a cause we all believe in deeply. Salmon are essential to our way of life in Washington,” said Ron Garner, president of the Puget Sound Anglers. “If salmon are going to stay here, it’s up to us to make it happen. We need to do everything we can, right now, to ensure they are still here for our future generations.”
Together, the coalition has committed to the following priority focus areas to protect and restore salmon populations:
- Habitat restoration and protection: Degraded habitat is the leading cause of declining populations, so it is critical to protect and restore ecosystems where salmon are born, grow, eat, seek refuge and return to spawn, such as river systems, wetlands, floodplains, estuaries, shorelines and Puget Sound.
- Hatchery production: Until habitat is restored and properly functioning, hatcheries (places where salmon are raised and then released) are crucial to maintaining salmon populations to support tribal treaty harvest and for nontreaty commercial and recreational fishing.
- Pinniped management: Pinniped populations (such as harbor seals and sea lions) have grown significantly over the past 40 years and eat salmon as part of their diet. It’s critical to understand the impacts of pinniped predation on salmon recovery, so it doesn’t have an out-of-balance effect or impede efforts.
By using this multi-faceted approach, the coalition hopes to reverse the trend of the state’s declining salmon population and increase awareness about the species’ importance to Washington’s environment, economy, culture and identity.
“A common misconception is that salmon recovery programs are all about making sure we can still fish for and eat salmon, but that is only a piece of the puzzle,” said John Stark, Ph.D., Washington State University professor of ecotoxicology. “As a keystone species, salmon are crucially important to every part of Washington’s ecosystem. Their diminishment has already had a profoundly negative impact on our state.”
As it works at the legislative and statewide levels, the Billy Frank Jr. Salmon Coalition is also asking Washingtonians to join them in the fight to protect salmon. The group is doing this through an outreach campaign outlining simple, easy steps that people can take every day.
“We want everyone to understand they too have a critical role to play in saving our salmon, starting with learning about local waterways and understanding how our actions impact the wildlife that rely on them,” said Kadi Bizyayeva, Stillaguamish tribe councilwoman and fisheries director. “It’s also vitally important to buy and eat locally sourced fish and seafood, and use your voice to support this wonderful place we call home through your vote, community actions and social media connections.”
To learn more about the Billy Frank Jr. Coalition, please visit SalmonWarriors.org.
About the Billy Frank Jr. Salmon Coalition and Salmon Defense:
The Billy Frank Jr. Salmon Coalition was convened by Salmon Defense, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and is an ongoing initiative that is part of the mission to protect and defend Pacific Northwest salmon and salmon habitat. Salmon Defense envisions a healthy environment for all of the region’s inhabitants now and in the future. We derive our mission from an understanding and appreciation of traditional and contemporary knowledge and values of the Pacific Northwest Indian Tribes.
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