Orca Network's Ways of Whales Workshop Showcases Puget Sound Conservation Successes

Orca Network’s annual Ways of Whales Workshop brought researchers, advocates, educators and community members together in Coupeville on Jan. 20 to highlight species recoveries and habitat-restoration projects across Puget Sound and the Salish Sea. The full-day event at Coupeville High School’s Performing Arts Center ran from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., included a virtual attendance option, and focused on how local restoration work connects to the health of whales, salmon and coastal communities.

Sessions ranged from local whale sighting trends to a look back at the remarkable comeback of humpback whales in the Salish Sea since the late 1990s, and the ongoing challenges that population faces today. Harbor porpoises were cited, alongside the former Wayne Golf Course, as tangible examples of conservation successes now being showcased to Island County residents and regional partners.

Salmon habitat protection was a central theme, framed as essential to southern resident orca recovery and to broader ecological and community well-being. A salmon habitat panel featured short presentations by George Pess on the removal of the Elwha River dams, Stephanie Raymond on Duwamish River estuary restoration projects, and Whitney Neugebauer from Whale Scout describing restoration work at the former Wayne Golf Course. Those talks connected large-scale engineering and local restoration efforts to improvements in rearing and migration habitat for salmonids.

“Whales, their prey and their habitats are facing a lot of challenges in today’s world,” said Cindy Hansen, Orca Network’s Education and Advocacy coordinator, “but we hope that the topics shared will lead to some hope and optimism.” That perspective underscored a recurring workshop theme: recovery is uneven and ongoing, but community-driven restoration can produce measurable wins that matter for species and people alike.

The event also offered a Learning Lobby showcasing Orca Network’s Pod Partners, a silent auction and networking opportunities for attendees to connect with local scientists and conservation groups. Registration had been set at $50 for general admission and $40 for seniors and students, and clock hours were available for teachers.

For Island County residents interested in follow-up or volunteer opportunities, Orca Network can be reached at cindy@orcanetwork.org or 360-223-5666. More information and registration details were posted at givebutter.com/c/e8NM4k. The workshop reinforced that local restoration and monitoring work in the Salish Sea directly influences the recovery of whales and salmon, and that continued community engagement will determine how those gains translate into long-term benefits for residents, fisheries and tribal communities.