Stewardship
“Everything is connected and personal choices matter; how you use water in your house, what kind of fish you buy at the market, who you vote for…”
—Megan Dethier
The following excerpts are from the various people who replied to our questionnaire. They responded to the question: “What can we do to be better stewards of the Salish Sea?”
In order to be better stewards of the Salish Sea the first thing we should do is listen to the youngest generations' pleas about climate change, and make the changes they are demanding. Yes folks, this will mean a large cultural overhaul. Anything short of that will not stop climate change, and as the Pacific ocean warms, eventually the Salish Sea will become too warm, have a giant algae bloom, and have a complete die off, like they have in some waterways in Florida every few years (also due to climate change and pollution). We need to back our kids who have the guts to call out the older generation oil addicts (like myself). Dana Lyons
What do we all need to know? That everything we do has an impact on the Salish Sea. Every mile we drive, every leaky transmission, every car wash… the Salish Sea is downstream from everything we do. Stefan Freelan
We need to better understand how the system functions and how our behaviors affect the Salish Sea. Everyone also needs to know what regulations are already in place and abide by them. Brian Bingham
What does everyone need to know to be better stewards of the Salish Sea? Understanding that all the waters are connected is a good start - for example, of the freshwater in Puget Sound, about 10-30% of it originated in the Fraser River. Parker MacCready
Support actions that reliably result in a measurable cumulative net improvement to the ecosystem. Think of reducing one’s effect through sustainability, reducing fragmentation, and supporting responsible science-based restoration and conservation programs. Ron Thom
I think that people will have to gain an understanding of the importance of this place to the many different kinds of people who call it home. I always hear people say that this is “a beautiful place to live” which is true but it is more than that. It’s a place with rich social, cultural and biological diversity. Approaching the unknown with respectful curiosity rather than confrontation may help everyone to be better stewards of the Salish Sea. Susanne Pavyluk
These are just a few of the threats that are important in the Salish Sea. There are many others and they all add up. In the words of renowned ecologist William E. Odum it is the insidious alteration of the estuarine environment that we should be considered about. If planners and ecosystem managers around the Salish Sea factor this idea in their work and as well push for restoration of habitat and ecological processes then I think nature will benefit with dividends to ourselves as well. After all, we are part of natural systems. Colin Levings
I do not think most people living around the Salish Sea are fully aware of how tightly coupled and how strongly-connected this marine ecosystem is among its various parts, especially across the U.S. - Canada border (other than perhaps those living near that border or perhaps on the San Juan and southern Gulf Islands). Better knowledge of how the water, contaminants, etc. circulate throughout the Salish Sea, and in particular across the international boundary, may help people to understand that what they do to their land, beachfronts, and marine environments can have significant impacts throughout the entire system. Ian Perry
Get informed on the environmental threats that the Salish Sea and the creatures within it face. Use that information to advocate – call your local legislator to support science-based policies and funding allocations that help create, research, and monitor a healthy and protected Salish Sea environment. Most importantly, get outside and spend time in the Salish Sea – beach walking, bird watching, kayaking, etc. – to develop a deeper relationship with the place you call home. Iris Kemp
We have to understand our interconnectedness to this region. to the land and to the water, on both sides of the border. One of the challenges on the Canadian side is that we are not facing an acute threat to the region, it's chronic, so a death by a thousand cuts which is very hard to see. Every day these waters that support us - socially, economically, culturally and spiritually - yet so many still don't realize how their actions threaten the very thing they love. So, efforts to make that connection, in particular through the fate of the southern resident killer whale, is one way to help make that connection so that people are willing to change to protect what they love. Christianne Wilhelmson