our work
Milestones
2017: Governor Jay Inslee signs an executive order to create the Orca Task Force, bringing stakeholders together to address the severe threats facing the endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW).
2017 – 2019: Over a two-year period, the Orca Task Force identifies three main threats to the whales: prey availability, toxins, and vessel disturbance (physical and acoustic). They issue recommendation #22 to “implement shipping noise-reduction initiatives and monitoring programs.”
2021: The state legislature approves funding for a new program modeled after British Columbia’s ECHO program. The program is officially established as Quiet Sound, with the nonprofit organization Washington Maritime Blue chosen to provide administrative and financial support. With matching support from NOAA, Port of Seattle, Port of Tacoma and Northwest Seaport Alliance, Quiet Sound hires its first employees and convenes the Quiet Sound Leadership Committee, which has met quarterly since.
2022: Quiet Sound begins the annual Admiralty Inlet Voluntary Slowdown.
2023: NOAA awards Maritime Blue the “2023 Partner in the Spotlight” for Quiet Sound’s exceptional efforts and data-driven changes in commercial shipping to aid the conservation and recovery of the Southern Resident killer whales.
2025: Quiet Sound installs its first thermal camera.
Our Compass
Past and Present Funders
We’d like to gratefully acknowledge our current funders, who include the organizations below. Thanks to you, Quiet Sound’s collaborative initiatives are helping protect the endangered Southern Resident killer whales from vessel impacts.
AltaGas|ALA Energy
Individual Donors
Maritime Blue
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, with support from the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and the US Department of Defense
Northwest Seaport Alliance
Port of Seattle
Port of Tacoma
Puget Sound Partnership
Prior funders include:
Bonneville Environmental Foundation and Promise the Pod
US Coast Guard
US Environmental Protection Agency
US Marine Mammal Commission
