Ocean health along the U.S. West Coast

The Pew Charitable Trusts has worked to promote ocean health along the U.S. West Coast for more than a decade. This includes efforts to conserve forage fish as critical prey for marine wildlife, protect ecologically sensitive areas such as pristine deep-sea corals, and reduce bycatch—injury or death of nontarget marine species—by phasing out large-mesh drift gillnets in the West Coast swordfish fishery.

Together with scientists, managers, recreational fishermen, and conservationists, Pew has helped pave the way for a more comprehensive approach to fisheries management in the region. 

In 2019, Pew’s focus expanded to include the protection and restoration of highly productive nearshore waters and coastal habitats crucial to a healthy marine environment. Read more about Pew’s ongoing work on these issues on the Conserving Marine Life in the U.S.— West Coast page.