The PST rests on a strong scientific foundation, yet key gaps exist in our ability to fully implement the 2019 PST updates

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded a $1,000,000 Project Grant under the Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Pacific Salmon Treaty Program (CFDA 11.438) to the Pacific Salmon Commission. The grant, with a performance period from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2027, is intended to fund projects that fill key scientific gaps, advance understanding of the effects of dynamic environmental conditions on Chinook salmon, and ensure sound science continues to inform salmon management. The grant supports a range of activities including conducting directed scientific studies on salmon distribution, productivity, and environmental conditions, facilitating cross-agency collaboration and technical committee travel for knowledge exchange, and implementing research and monitoring programs such as the Coded-Wire Tag program and Chinook Salmon Research and Monitoring program. As a binational organization, the Pacific Salmon Commission will administer sub-awards to priority projects selected by representatives from Western Washington and Columbia River Tribes, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and NOAA Fisheries.

Changing environmental conditions, associated changes in salmon distribution and productivity, and rapidly evolving fisheries are generating questions and concerns that did not arise during the bilateral negotiations in 2017 and 2018. Projects funded through this grant, directed at priority investments for sound science (?directed sound science?), are intended to contribute to filling those gaps, advance our understanding of the effects of dynamic environmental conditions on chinook salmon, and ensure that sound science continues to inform our management of chinook salmon under these challenging conditions.