McKeegan, K., LeMoine, M., Morris, S. and Grant, M., 2024. Quality Assurance Project Plan – Research on pinnipeds in Skagit Bay to determine predation potential on juvenile or adult salmon. Skagit River System Cooperative, Burlington, WA. pp. 45.

The success of pinniped (seals and sea lions) recovery in Puget Sound has potential impacts on
commercially and culturally important fish species, such as Pacific Salmon. Skagit River
Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) are listed as Threatened under the Endangered
Species Act and are of central focus for recovery actions. While pinniped predation was
considered in the Skagit Chinook Recovery Plan (2005), it is difficult to determine the extent to
which pinnipeds impact Skagit Chinook populations and what could be done politically to
reverse any negative impacts. To inform potential predation impacts on salmon, visual surveys
will be used to describe the abundance and distribution of pinnipeds while hauled out, assuming
good hunting locations are located at the intersection of high salmon abundance and nearby
haulout locations. This project will leverage current activities associated with the Skagit
Intensively Monitored Watershed Program (IMW) to opportunistically identify new pinniped
haulout locations and survey pre-defined haulout locations within Skagit Bay. These surveys will
inform where pinnipeds are co-occurring with Chinook Salmon, allowing for initial estimates of
potential predation impacts. Sauk-Suiattle Indian Tribe will seek out opportunities to share the
results of this research with other Tribes and co-managers at the Washington State Department of
Fish and Wildlife, as well as other researchers in Puget Sound.