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Health of the Salish Sea Ecosystem Report

  • Marine species at risk

    The total number of marine species identified as at-risk in the Salish Sea doubled from 2002 to 2015.

    Learn about this loss of biodiversity
  • Marine water quality

    Marine dissolved oxygen levels continue to decline in parts of the Salish Sea.

    Learn how it's impacting marine life
  • Southern Resident Killer Whales

    The Southern Resident Killer Whale population is facing increasing threats to its survival and recovery.

    Read our report on this iconic species

Our shared ecosystem

The Health of the Salish Sea Ecosystem Report is unique in its focus on collaboration across the U.S.-Canada international border and among various levels of government, academic institutions, non-profits, First Nations and Puget Sound Tribes.

  • Executive summary

    A group of Southern Resident Killer Whales in the Salish Sea. Photo credit: NOAA Fisheries.

    Get an overview of the indicators we're tracking and how they can help us identify priorities for action to protect and restore this vital ecosystem.

    Read our executive summary
  • About this report

    View of Saanich Inlet from Malahat, British Columbia. Photo courtesy of BC Ministry of Transportation (Flickr CC BY-NC-ND 2.0).

    This website represents a collaboration between the U.S. EPA and Environment and Climate Change Canada to report on the health of our shared marine ecosystem, which includes Puget Sound, Georgia Basin, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

    Learn how to use this report

Ecosystem indicators for the Salish Sea

Read our reports for each of the environmental measures – or indicators – that we're tracking. Learn what's happening, why it's important, what's being done about it, and what you can do to help.

  • Air Quality
  • Chinook Salmon
  • Freshwater Quality
  • Marine Species at Risk
  • Marine Water Quality
  • Shellfish Harvesting
  • Southern Resident Killer Whales
  • Stream Flow
  • Swimming Beaches
  • Toxics in the Food Web

What are ecosystem indicators?

The same way that blood pressure is an indicator of your body's overall health, we can learn about the overall health of an ecosystem by studying certain environmental metrics.

Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on May 13, 2025
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