Programs and Authorities Related to Marine Bird 

 Conservation in Washington State 



by 



Ralph W. Larson 



Washington Department of Game 



600 North Capitol Way 

 Olympia, Washington 98504 



Abstract 



Seabirds are one of the most visible biological components of ecosystems, and 

 yet little is known about them. They could readily be used as an index of marine 

 environmental quality if adequate studies were conducted to determine popula- 

 tions, habitat needs, and causes of fluctuations in abundance. The lack of ade- 

 quate funding at the State level has precluded necessary studies to make these 

 determinations and to provide habitat protection and preservation. 



The State of Washington has developed a funding source for protection, 

 preservation, and enhancement of nongame wildlife, which includes seabirds. 

 The sale of personalized license plates for vehicles is now providing some funds 

 for nongame wildlife management funds which should increase as the popu- 

 larity of the licensing program increases. Outdoor Recreation Bonds are provid- 

 ing funding for habitat preservation. Authorities provided the Washington 

 Game Department are adequate to manage and protect seabird species. Other 

 State laws offer additional protection to their habitat specifically the Shoreline 

 Management Act of 1971 and the State Environmental Act. 



It has been often stated that seabirds are 

 one of the most visible biological components 

 of ecosystems, and yet little is known about 

 them. Most studies to date have been on fish, 

 and because of their recreational and commer- 

 cial value, the concern for maintaining the 

 marine environment has been primarily a re- 

 sult of the concern for maintaining the fishery 

 resource. The visible knowledge of the fishery 

 resource, however, becomes an "after-the- 

 fact" knowledge since the status of the stocks 

 relates to the value and amount of the 

 fishery a fishery resulting from survival 

 under the surface in the marine environment 

 that can be very secretive about its quality 

 until it is too late to do something about it. 

 Seabirds, however, are visible above the sur- 

 face, in numbers that can reflect changes in 

 the marine environment that occur below the 

 surface, since many depend on the subsurface 

 quality that reflects populations of fish. 



Studies in Oregon have indicated that con- 

 sumption of pelagic fish by murres (Uria spp.), 

 cormorants (Phalacrocorax spp.), storm- 

 petrels (Oceanodroma spp.), and shearwaters 

 (Puffinus spp.) account for about 22% of the 

 annual production of various species of these 

 fish. A decline in this food source will reflect a 

 decline in the seabird population. Why then 

 should it be necessary to use only fish popula- 

 tions as an index of marine environmental 

 quality, when seabirds can more readily be ob- 

 served and can reflect the same changes that 

 occur? 



As a public wildlife agency, the Washington 

 Department of Game is often attempting to 

 justify the value of seabirds, and sometimes 

 that is not easy. When fishermen complain 

 that the seabirds are eating all of the food of 

 our mighty salmon, and hunters indicate little 

 compassion because the birds have no value 

 to sport hunting, one has to think a little to 



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