National Marine Fisheries Service

10/01/2024 | Press release | Archived content

Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement Expenditure of Funds to Increase Prey Availability for Southern Resident Killer Whales

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Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement--Expenditure of Funds to Increase Prey Availability for Southern Resident Killer Whales

October 01, 2024

Final programmatic environmental impact statement evaluating effects of funding programs to increase salmon as prey for southern resident killer whales

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NMFS evaluates a range of alternatives for the use of federal funding to increase the prey availability for Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKWs), to mitigate reductions in prey resulting from regional declines in salmon abundances and fisheries managed under the Pacific Salmon Treaty.

The proposed action/preferred alternative for the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is to use federal funds for a hatchery salmon prey increase program for SRKWs to mitigate the effects of U.S. salmon fisheries managed under the 2019 Pacific Salmon Treaty Agreement. The funding would be distributed to hatchery operators to produce juvenile hatchery salmon that will mature into adult salmon for prey of SRKWs in marine waters.

The Programmatic Final Environmental Impact Statement (FPEIS) was made available for public review and comment on October 4, 2024.

For more information on the prey increase program for SRKWs, visit our web page.

The FPEIS was prepared with attention to accessibility, but, due to the complexity of the document and appendices materials, some issues may still remain. If you need assistance with this document, please contact us at [email protected]to discuss your information needs.

Last updated by West Coast Regional Office on 10/03/2024

Killer Whale