The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission announced the death this morning of its founder and chairman Billy Frank Jr., an iconic champion of tribal fishing rights and a leading advocate for salmon and the environment. The commission was closed for the day, and the news of Frank’s death at 83 has resonated throughout the Pacific Northwest. “Billy Frank […]
April 10, 2014
Socio-cultural values associated with salmon in the Quinault Indian Nation
A 2014 report from the Puget Sound Institute describes a study of socio-cultural values associated with blueback salmon in the Quinault Indian Nation. The blueback salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) is a unique strain of sockeye that returns primarily to the Quinault river system. The report was prepared by Kelly Biedenweg and Sophia Amberson of the University of […]
April 1, 2014
PSI Visiting Scientist key advisor in halt to Japanese whaling
By Jeff Rice A March 31st ruling by the United Nations to halt Japanese whaling in the Antarctic draws heavily on analysis by PSI Visiting Scientist Marc Mangel, who served as an Independent Scientific Expert in the case. The Japanese government had argued that whaling in the region was primarily for scientific research, but had been challenged […]
March 13, 2014
Legislature hears testimony on Puget Sound forage fish
Puget Sound Institute research scientist Tessa Francis testified before the Washington House Environment Committee today about the ecological importance of the region’s forage fish. She discussed findings from PSI’s recent Study Panel on Ecosystem-based Management of Forage Fish in Puget Sound. Watch the testimony online.
March 11, 2014
Governor appoints new members to PSP Leadership Council
The governor’s office has appointed Jay Manning and Stephanie Sollen to the Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council. Diana Gale was re-appointed through 2015 and will take over for David Dicks, who recently stepped down. Read Leadership Council member bios.
January 7, 2014
Governor names Sheida R. Sahandy new executive director for Puget Sound Partnership
Governor Inslee has named City of Bellevue administrator Sheida R. Sahandy as the new Executive Director of the Puget Sound Partnership. Sahandy, 44, is a former corporate attorney who has served as Bellevue’s Assistant to City Manager and Policy Advisor since 2006. As a city administrator, Sahandy worked to develop environmental indicators and targets, was […]
December 12, 2013
New Puget Sound Science Panel members announced
The Puget Sound Leadership Council has appointed four new members to the Puget Sound Science Panel, including two Canadian scientists. Ian Perry of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Terre Satterfield of the University of British Columbia join Nives Dolsak and Tim Essington of the University of Washington. Bill Labiosa was re-appointed. Their terms extend to […]
November 22, 2013
New paper applies invasion biology to social networks
Jeff Rice Social media now proliferates across almost every sector of the Web, from commercial enterprises like Facebook to crowd sourcing of science and medical data. New online communities are created constantly, but not all of these efforts succeed, and the Web is littered with failed attempts and false starts. How can you tell which […]
November 1, 2013
Tessa Francis joins Encyclopedia of Puget Sound editorial board
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Tessa Francis has joined the Encyclopedia of Puget Sound editorial board. Tessa is the Lead Ecosystem Ecologist at PSI, and will serve as the Encyclopedia’s ecosystem-based management topic editor. She is an aquatic ecologist, and her research is related to aquatic food webs, and the impacts of environmental […]
October 31, 2013
Developing Human Wellbeing Indicators for the Hood Canal Watershed
The Puget Sound Institute and Stanford University have released a final report describing the process of developing human wellbeing (HWB) indicators for the Hood Canal watershed. The report, written by PSI’s Kelly Biedenweg and Adi Hanein of the UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, will serve as a guide for establishment of HWB indicators […]