Citizen Initiative to create a Trans-national Salish Sea Particularly Sensitive Sea Area

Since 2014 citizens, ngos, tribes and governmental agencies have been engaged in the nomination to designate the Salish Sea as a Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) under the International Maritime Organization. A PSSA is defined as an area in need of special protection through the IMO due to its ecological, social, cultural, and economic, or scientific significance and because of its vulnerability to damage by international shipping activities. With our waterways already crowded and a 43% increase in shipping traffic projected, Dr. Gillespie will discuss why the PSSA Designation is the right tool to protect the Salish Sea’s fishing, culture and the environment. He will compare results of the Salish Sea against 14 other PSSA’s and show how our Salish Sea community can protect a uniquely important marine ecosystem from the threats posed to it by international shipping. A PSSA in the Salish Sea can pull together and synchronize very complex, and often conflicting, domestic and international, legal and policy goals. A Salish Sea PSSA Designation would culminate in a set of associated protective measures that would strengthen protections. PSSA’s have been set up in 14 areas world-wide. He will share results from the 2014 PSSA feasibility report and results from Friends of the San Juans and other public interest organizations between 2014-2016