Canada-U.S. cooperation in the Salish Sea

For 25 years, a Statement of Cooperation (SoC) has supported transboundary collaboration between Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Salish Sea. This includes the culturally and ecologically significant environments of the Strait of Georgia, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound.  Through knowledge exchange, information sharing, and technical collaboration, the SoC helps both countries monitor and protect the health of the shared Salish Sea ecosystem.

About the Salish Sea SoC

The non-binding Salish Sea Statement of Cooperation (earlier known as the Joint Statement of Cooperation on the Georgia Basin and Puget Sound Ecosystem) was signed in January 2000 by the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Canada’s Minister of the Environment. The SoC outlines a shared vision for the health of the transboundary ecosystem and commits to cooperation between the two agencies.

The SoC recognizes and honours the traditional knowledge and values of the Indigenous Peoples of the Georgia Basin and Puget Sound regions and commits to working with Indigenous representatives in a spirit of mutual respect to preserve and protect the ecosystem.

Over the past 25 years, the SoC has facilitated dialogue and cooperation on environmental issues among transboundary partners.

Program activities and priorities

Current priorities under the 2025 to 2028 SoC Action Plan include:

• supporting transboundary knowledge exchange
• developing and maintaining ecosystem health indicators and publishing joint Health of the Salish Sea Ecosystem Report
• sharing information on projects with potential transboundary impacts
• supporting Tribal-First Nation transboundary coordination
• supporting state, provincial, and local transboundary coordination
• supporting federal transboundary coordination

Key documents

• Joint Statement of Cooperation on the Georgia Basin and Puget Sound Ecosystem
  • The foundational agreement that established a shared vision for the Salish Sea ecosystem and formalized cooperation between ECCC and the EPA in 2000.
• Canada and U.S. Cooperation in the Salish Sea: 2025–2028 Action Plan
  • Under the SoC, ECCC and EPA co-chair a Working Group responsible for developing and updating Action Plans that advance SoC commitments.
  • The Working Group includes advisory members from partner organizations that support implementation of shared goals.

Reports

Health of the Salish Sea Ecosystem Report

• Since 2002, ECCC and EPA have collaborated to produce the Health of the Salish Sea Ecosystem Report, which tracks trends across ten environmental indicators, such as air quality and Chinook salmon, to provide an overall picture of environmental conditions in the Salish Sea watershed.
• By reporting to the public on the health of the shared ecosystem, the report supports SoC commitments to share scientific information and develop joint research initiatives. The suite of indicators is intended to inform stewardship and decision-making.

Contact us

Environment and Climate Change Canada
351 boul. St-Joseph,
Gatineau, Quebec, K1A 0H3

Email:  enviroinfo@ec.gc.ca