FY21 PCSRF Report to Congress

Today, 28 Endangered Species Act (ESA)-listed salmon species are at risk or likely to become at risk of extinction on the West Coast.  Many other populations not listed under the ESA have experienced substantial reductions from their historic abundance levels and face a multitude of threats including climate change.  Pacific salmon are foundational to the region’s ecology, and Chinook salmon, in particular, are important prey for endangered Southern Resident killer whales.  Recovering abundant native salmon populations will benefit communities through renewed commercial and recreational fishing opportunities and associated jobs.  Many of these species are of profound cultural importance to West Coast Native American tribes. The species’ recovery is critical to supporting tribal fishing traditions, as well as meeting Federal obligations as stewards of tribal treaty and trust resources.

The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) was established to reverse the declines of Pacific salmon and steelhead by supporting conservation efforts in Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and California. In this story map, we highlight how our partners are protecting cold-water refugia and combating climate change with support from the PCSRF. These projects are featured in NOAA Fisheries’ Fiscal Year 2021 PCSRF Report to Congress.

PCSRF funds the protection, conservation, and restoration of salmon and steelhead species for the benefit of local communities, including tribal communities. Each PCSRF project advances the common goal of full recovery and sustainability of Pacific salmon and steelhead populations. The continued commitment and collaboration from our partners is vital to reversing salmon and steelhead species’ declines.

Through the PCSRF, NOAA Fisheries has distributed funds to the five West Coast states and to federally recognized tribes or their representative tribal commissions and consortia in those states using a competitive grants process.

For more information about the PCSRF grant program, please visit our webiste at  https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/grant/pacific-coastal-salmon-recovery-fund.