FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 24, 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Katie Love, 564.250.0925, katie.love@psp.wa.gov
SEATTLE -- Tugboat operators in Puget Sound have new voluntary guidance designed to give orcas more room to forage, travel, and avoid vessel disturbance.
The Puget Sound Harbor Safety Committee approved a new protocol for off duty tugboats operating near orcas in Puget Sound and adjacent waters. The guidance was developed collaboratively by the Puget Sound Partnership, Washington State Department of Ecology, Washington State Ferries, Quiet Sound, maritime operators, and regional harbor safety leaders.
The new protocol, called a Standard of Care, asks light tugboats, when safe and feasible, to slow down, yield space, and avoid navigating through orca pods. It sets a goal of maintaining at least 1,000 yards of distance from any orca. This applies to vessels that are not actively towing, escorting another vessel, or otherwise operating in a way that limits their ability to safely slow or change course. It does not override existing federal or state laws, and it does not limit a captain’s authority to maintain the safety and security of the vessel.
Southern Resident orcas need space to successfully hunt Chinook salmon, their primary food source. Vessel disturbance impairs their ability to forage, making vessel distance an important part of the region's broader orca recovery strategy.
"Southern Resident orca recovery is non-negotiable for Washington," said Stephanie Solien, former co-chair of the Governor's Southern Resident Orca Recovery Task Force. "The Task Force called for sustained action to reduce vessel disturbance, increase Chinook salmon, and address pollution. This new Standard of Care is an important example of that work continuing by bringing industry, agencies, and recovery partners together to help protect these whales."
The new guidance reflects the Puget Sound Partnership's role in helping turn orca recovery priorities into practical, on-the-water action. After earlier work showed that simply slowing tug traffic did not reduce impacts on orca, the Partnership worked with Quiet Sound, regional tug operators, the American Waterways Operators, the Puget Sound Harbor Safety Committee, and other partners to support a different approach: increasing distance between light tugs and orcas when vessels have the flexibility to do so safely.
"Tugs are among the most active vessel types in Puget Sound, so finding a practical way to reduce disturbance around orcas has been a priority," said Todd Hass, special assistant to the director of the Puget Sound Partnership and former chair of the Orca Recovery Task Force vessel group. " Bringing all the core interests together allowed us to develop guidance that recognizes the operational realities of tugboats while also helping reduce potential disturbance to orcas."
The guidance outlines a four-step approach for operators: check for recent orca presence before getting underway, slow or stop to assess when orcas are seen, yield space when safe and feasible, and report orca sightings through existing whale-reporting systems.
"We appreciated the opportunity to co-develop this practical approach with the Partnership and the Harbor Safety Committee," said Peter Schrappen, Vice President of the American Waterways Operators, the national association of the U.S. tugboat. "This guidance gives tugboat operators clear information about how they can contribute to protecting orcas when it is safe and feasible to do so."
As a next step, the Puget Sound Partnership, Quiet Sound, and maritime partners plan to share the Standard of Care with Canadian counterparts to explore opportunities for similar best practices in other parts of the Salish Sea. Consistent voluntary practices across the region give orcas more quiet space to forage and travel safely.
More information about the Standard of Care is available on the Puget Sound Harbor Safety Plan page (PDF).
About the Puget Sound Partnership
The Puget Sound Partnership is the state agency formed to lead the region’s collective effort to restore and protect Puget Sound. Working with hundreds of government agencies, Tribes, scientists, businesses, and nonprofits, the Partnership mobilizes partner action around a common agenda, advances Sound investments, and tracks progress to optimize recovery.
For more information, go to www.psp.wa.gov
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