(Washington, D.C.) –
Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Congressman Rick Larsen (D-WA 2nd)
teamed up to introduce legislation in the Senate and House of Representatives
that reauthorizes and expands the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation
Initiative Act. The Northwest Straits Initiative’s goal is to restore and
protect marine habitat in the Northwest Straits in order to achieve ecosystem health
and sustainable resource use. Most importantly, the legislation establishes and
funds the Northwest Straits Commission which works with local marine resources
committees to design and initiate projects that protect and restore marine
species and habitats in the straits.
“The Northwest
Straits Initiative is a highly successful grassroots conservation effort that
has consistently produced excellent work to protect and restore the natural
marine habitat of the Northwest Straits,” said Senator Murray. “That’s why I’m fighting to make sure
their work continues. Expanding this initiative means bolstering a proven model
for marine habitat restoration and preserving delicate ecosystems for
generations to come.”
“The
Northwest Straits are an important part of Washington state’s environmental
heritage and support many good local jobs in the community,” said Rep. Larsen. “We
must continue to support the Northwest Straits Commission so they can build
upon their hard work restoring and conserving this important marine area and
vital economic resource for the region.”
In the late 1990s,
Washington communities were divided over how to protect marine resources in the
Northwest Straits – an area in the Northwest part of Washington from the Strait
of Juan de Fuca and Northern Puget Sound to the Canadian border. In 1997,
Senator Murray and Congressman Jack Metcalf began to bring opposing
stakeholders together to create an advisory commission that would address local
marine conservation issues. At a time when few thought the experiment would
work, their coordinated efforts created an innovative program for restoring and
protecting marine habitats. In 1999, Congressman Rick Larsen joined the effort
as a member of the Snohomish County Council and has been a staunch advocate of
the Northwest Straits Initiative and the Commission’s work ever since.
Since
it was first authorized by Congress in 1998 in the Polish Fishing Act, Senator
Murray has helped secure over $8.4 million for the Northwest Straits
Initiative. When Senator Murray first secured funding for the Northwest Straits
Commission she did so with the requirement that after five years an independent
panel would evaluate its progress. In 2004, a national evaluation panel of
experts chaired by Bill Ruckelshaus declared the program worthwhile,
encouraging Congress to continue supporting the Northwest Straits Commission.
Today,
the Northwest Straits Commission and its seven-county volunteer groups extend
from Clallam, Jefferson, Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, Island and Snohomish counties.
The Northwest Straits Commission has shown that it is an effective model in
restoring our marine ecosystems. The program awards grant funds which have been
used to facilitate bottomfish recovery, conduct nearshore habitat inventories,
protect forage fish species, establish marine protected areas, conduct habitat
assessments remove, fishing nets and facilitate education and outreach.
The
Northwest Straits Commission is a grassroots effort that involves
representatives from county, tribal, state and federal governments, non-profit
organizations and volunteers who are working together to protect and restore
marine resources in northern Puget Sound.
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