Strategic Focus Areas
How we make progress
Since its launch in June 2021, Quiet Sound has made significant headway toward its overall goal – to better understand and reduce the effects of acoustic and physical disturbances from large commercial vessels on the endangered Southern Resident killer whales in Washington waters. Since our launch we watched as the SRKWs have welcome new births and yet lost other individuals, resulting in a flat population count. While new young whales are signs of hope, we also recognize that the whales continue to struggle with lack of food, toxins in the water, and vessel impacts. This motivates our work to build on our coalition’s commitments and make a real difference in the water for these iconic whales and other cetaceans in Washington waters.
People
Quiet Sound’s staff lead our projects and support a consensus-based decision-making body, the leadership committee. The Leadership Committee meets quarterly, supported by the ORCAs advisory group, who provide the Leadership Committee with expert perspectives on underwater noise, whale reporting, vessel operations, new technologies for vessel quieting, treaty rights, and adaptive management.
Funding
Quiet Sound is funded by state, local, federal, and philanthropic funding sources. Quiet Sound’s is currently funded by the Puget Sound Partnership, Port of Seattle, Port of Tacoma, and the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation with support from NOAA and the Department of Defense, Altagas|ALA Energy, and individual donors. Prior supporters include NOAA, US Coast Guard, the US EPA, and the Bonneville Environmental Foundation.
Projects
Quiet Sound’s current Strategic Plan details our work in three major focus areas: Voluntary Vessel Operational Measures, Whale Detections and Alerts to Mariners, and Vessel Quieting.
What’s next for Quiet Sound? Sustainable funding sources are needed to ensure the longevity and success of this program. The Quiet Sound staff, leadership committee and work group members continue to search for that funding, work to advance the program and projects, create and maintain meaningful partnerships, all in the service of supporting the recovery of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales.
To stay up to date on all things Quiet Sound, you can reach out to us here or follow Maritime Blue on LinkedIn and Twitter.
