Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act

The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2009 (H.R. 1672), introduced by Representative Rick Larsen, would support efforts to conserve marine habitats in the Pacific Northwest.

The Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative was authorized by Congress in 1998 to restore and protect the marine resources of the region.  The term Northwest Straits refers to the U.S. waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the San Juan Islands and northern Puget Sound reaching from the southern borders of Snohomish and Jefferson counties in Washington north to the Canadian border. For the last 11 years, the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative has worked with local stakeholders to develop and implement conservation and restoration projects.  This bill would make minor changes to the Commission’s governance structure and extend its authorization five years.

This bill would continue to protect the Northwest region for endangered fish, threatened wildlife, and the many people who use the Northwest Straits region for commerce and recreation.