The public is invited to attend the closing session of a conference on the Future of the Salish Sea, a traditional name for the large body of water between Canada and the US that includes Puget Sound, the Strait of Georgia and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The conference itself is co-hosted by the Puget Sound Partnership and Environmental Canada, and is being held this week at the Convention Center.  The conference serves as "a forum for sharing science and policy information concerning the condition and management of the shared Salish Sea ecosystem", according to an invitation put out by David Dicks, Executive Director of the Puget Sound Partnership. 

Over 900 leading scientists, resource managers, government officials, business leaders, tribal and First Nation governments, non-profit organizations, students and interested citizens are attending.  "The conference Call to Action is expected to build on and compliment the Puget Sound Partnership’s Action Agenda. It will include recommendations that focus on trans-boundary issues, opportunities for collaboration, and commitment to action on both sides of the border for the protection and restoration of the shared ecosystem."

The public is welcome to sit in on the closing plenary which will present the Call to Action being developed over the course of the conference.  It is Wednesday, Feb. 11th from 3:30-5:00 on the 6th floor of the Convention Center.  "Modeled on a traditional Coast Salish witness ceremony, the closing plenary will bring together prominent spokespeople for the Salish Sea, including Bill Ruckelshaus, to hear, remember and share their response to the conference and to reflect on the importance of the Call to Action in protecting and restoring this transboundary ecosystem."

For more information on the conference click here.