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A catalyst for ecosystem recovery

The University of Washington Puget Sound Institute provides analysis, research and communication to advance the science of ecosystem protection.

Kayaker on beach with inset photo of seabird in flight over water.">

Blog Post

Looking back on a year of Puget Sound surprises: rare birds, gray whales, water

The year 2025 has been fairly mystifying to experts who make their living studying natural systems in the Puget Sound region. Unusual observations this year include record-low dissolved oxygen levels, unexpected gray whale visitations, and the sudden arrival of an astounding number of short-tailed shearwaters — a seabird almost never seen in Puget Sound. Cold […]

Scientist conduct water quality sampling from boat.">

Events

December 2 roundtable shares the səlilwətaɬ / Tsleil-Waututh Nation and Fisheries & Oceans Canada collaborations in Burrard Inlet

The Salish Sea Science Roundtable online speaker series continues on Tuesday, December 2 from 12:30 – 1:30 pm. Signed in 2021, the Burrard Inlet Environmental Science and Stewardship Agreement (BIESSA) is a Nation-to-Nation Reconciliation agreement between Canada and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation; TWN) aiming to strengthen coordination and collaboration of science and stewardship activities in Burrard Inlet, […]

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Blog Post

Experts expect the recent arrival of chum salmon to bring orcas back to Puget Sound

UPDATE: Monday, Nov. 3 Whales return to Central Puget Sound without youngest calf All three pods of southern resident killer whales traveled into Central Puget Sound Sunday, making it as far south as the southern end of Vashon Island, if not farther. The past few days, various whales have been spotted in the San Juan […]