Central Puget Sound is home to several species of threatened and endangered marine mammals, birds, and fish — most notably Southern Resident killer whales, an iconic and beloved species in our region. Underwater noise impacts their ability to feed, communicate, navigate, reproduce, and avoid danger. In fact, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife cites underwater noise as one of the top three threats to the southern resident killer whale population.

The Port of Seattle is important to the region as human residents need port-related services to travel, transport goods between the Pacific Northwest and the rest of the world, and drive the region’s economy. But authorities realize the needs of both humans and marine mammals can be met.

One step to in the goal to making that happen is the Underwater Noise Mitigation and Management Plan. The goal is to reduce underwater noise such as in-water construction and vessel operations.

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