The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) acts to preserve, protect, perpetuate, and manage Washington's wildlife, food fish, game fish, and shellfish. DFW must conserve fish and wildlife resources in a manner seeking to maintain the economic well-being and stability of the state's fishery resources. Several species of salmon are listed as either threatened or endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).
The ESA, administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), regulates protections for threatened and endangered species. The USFWS is primarily responsible for terrestrial and freshwater species, while the NMFS is primarily responsible for marine wildlife and anadromous fish.
DFW must convene an Avian Salmon Predation Work Group (Work Group). The Work Group is required to identify all avian species that predate on juvenile salmon, determine whether those species are adversely impacting the recovery of any threatened or endangered salmon, and identify remedies. The Work Group is required to report to the Legislature and DFW by June 30, 2025. The Work Group expires on July 1, 2026.
The Work Group consists of: