Editing Puget Sound (section)

==Flora and fauna==
{{see also|List of fishes of the Salish Sea}}
Important marine flora of Puget Sound include eelgrass (''[[Zostera marina]]'')<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/1-eelgrass |title= Eelgrass |publisher= Encyclopedia of Puget Sound |access-date= August 6, 2014 |archive-date= October 26, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141026080701/http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/1-eelgrass |url-status= live }}</ref> and various [[kelp]], important kelps include canopy forming bull kelp (''[[Nereocystis luetkeana]]'').<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/2-kelp |title= Kelp |publisher= Encyclopedia of Puget Sound |access-date= August 6, 2014 |archive-date= October 26, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141026135722/http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/2-kelp |url-status= live }}</ref> and edible kelps like kombu (''[[Saccharina latissima]])<ref>{{cite web |title=Sugar Kelp, Kombu, Sugar Wrack – Seaweeds of the Pacific Northwest |url=https://seaweedsofpnw.com/sugar-kelp-kombu-sugar-wrack/ |website=Seaweeds of the Pacific Northwest |date=September 30, 2018 |access-date=February 7, 2022}}</ref>
[[File:Harbor Seal (Phoca Vitulina) in Puget Sound Washington 3.jpg|thumb|198x198px|A harbor seal along the coast of the Puget Sound]]
Among the marine mammals species found in Puget Sound are [[harbor seal]]s (''Phoca vitulina'').<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/11-harbor-seals |title= Harbor seals |publisher= Encyclopedia of Puget Sound |access-date= August 6, 2014 |archive-date= October 26, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141026064646/http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/11-harbor-seals |url-status= live }}</ref> [[Southern resident orcas|Orca]] (''Orcinus orca''), or "killer whales" are famous throughout the Sound, and are a large tourist attraction. Although orca are sometimes seen in Puget Sound proper they are far more prevalent around the [[San Juan Islands]] north of Puget Sound.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/12-killer-whales |title= Killer Whales |publisher= Encyclopedia of Puget Sound |access-date= August 6, 2014 |archive-date= October 26, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141026065418/http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/12-killer-whales |url-status= live }}</ref>

Many fish species occur in Puget Sound. The various [[Salmonidae|salmonid]] species, including [[Puget Sound salmon recovery|salmon]], [[trout]], and [[Salvelinus|char]] are particularly well-known and studied. Salmonid species of Puget Sound include [[chinook salmon]] (''Oncorhynchus tshawytscha''), [[chum salmon]] (''O. keta''), [[coho salmon]] (''O. kisutch''), [[pink salmon]] (''O. gorbuscha''), [[sockeye salmon]] (''O. nerka''), sea-run [[coastal cutthroat trout]] (''O. clarki clarki''), [[Rainbow trout|steelhead]] (''O. mykiss irideus''), sea-run [[bull trout]] (''Salvelinus confluentus''), and [[Dolly Varden trout]] (''Salvelinus malma malma'').<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/8-salmonids |title= Salmonids |publisher= Encyclopedia of Puget Sound |access-date= August 6, 2014 |archive-date= October 26, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141026064658/http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/8-salmonids |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/pugetsound/species/salmon.html |title= Puget Sound Shorelines: Salmon |publisher= Washington Department of Ecology |access-date= August 6, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141113053309/http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/pugetsound/species/salmon.html |archive-date= November 13, 2014 |url-status= dead |df= dmy-all }}</ref>

[[File:Oncorhynchus nerka.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Sockeye salmon]] (''Oncorhynchus nerka'') with spawning colors]]
[[File:Lake Washington Ship Canal Fish Ladder pamphlet - ocean phase Steelhead.jpg|right|thumb|200px|[[Rainbow trout|Steelhead trout]] (''Oncorhynchus mykiss'')]]Common [[forage fish]]es found in Puget Sound include [[Pacific herring]] (''Clupea pallasii''), [[Hypomesus pretiosus|surf smelt]] (''Hypomesus pretiosus''), and Pacific [[sand lance]] (''Ammodytes hexapterus'').<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/5-forage-fishes |title= Forage Fishes |publisher= Encyclopedia of Puget Sound |access-date= August 6, 2014 |archive-date= August 8, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140808055638/http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/5-forage-fishes |url-status= live }}</ref> Important [[benthopelagic fish]] of Puget Sound include [[North Pacific hake]] (''Merluccius productus''), [[Pacific cod]] (''Gadus macrocephalus''), [[Alaska pollock|walleye/Alaska pollock]] (''Theragra chalcogramma''), and the [[spiny dogfish]] (''Squalus acanthias'').<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/6-bentho-pelagic-fish |title= Bentho-Pelagic Fish |publisher= Encyclopedia of Puget Sound |access-date= August 6, 2014 |archive-date= October 26, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141026065042/http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/6-bentho-pelagic-fish |url-status= live }}</ref> Lots of other notable groundfish exist in Puget Sound, such the [[lingcod]] (''Ophiodon elongatus'') and other [[Hexagrammidae|greenlings]], [[Cabezon (fish)|cabezon]] (''Scorpaenichthys marmoratus'') and other [[sculpin]]s'','' and the [[Pacific halibut]] (''Hippoglossus stenolepis'') along with other [[flatfish]] such as the [[California halibut]] (''Paralichthys californicus'',) [[Sole (fish)|soles]], and [[Citharichthys|sanddabs]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cat |date=2023-08-24 |title=Puget Sound Fishing: The Complete Guide for 2025 |url=https://fishingbooker.com/blog/puget-sound-fishing/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=FishingBooker Blog |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

There are about 28 species of [[Sebastidae]] (rockfish), of many types, found in Puget Sound. Among those of special interest are [[copper rockfish]] (''Sebastes caurinus''), [[quillback rockfish]] (''S. maliger''), [[black rockfish]] (''S. melanops''), [[yelloweye rockfish]] (''S. ruberrimus''), [[bocaccio rockfish]] (''S. paucispinis''), [[canary rockfish]] (''S. pinniger''), and [[Puget Sound rockfish]] (''S. emphaeus'').<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/7-rockfish |title= Rockfish |publisher= Encyclopedia of Puget Sound |access-date= August 6, 2014 |archive-date= October 26, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141026065105/http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/7-rockfish |url-status= live }}</ref> Interestingly, hybridization has occurred between some of these rockfish, in the case of between the quillback, copper, and [[Brown rockfish|brown]] (''S.'' ''auriculatus.'')<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rockfish hybrids {{!}} Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife |url=https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/rockfish-hybrids |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=wdfw.wa.gov |language=en}}</ref> Some rockfish, like the bocaccio and [[Sebastes miniatus|vermillion]] (''S. miniatus,'') have a [[distinct population segment]] in the sound, which are at risk of [[overfishing]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fisheries |first=NOAA |date=2025-03-25 |title=Bocaccio (Protected) {{!}} NOAA Fisheries |url=https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/bocaccio-protected |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=NOAA |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Vermilion rockfish {{!}} Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife |url=https://wdfw.wa.gov/species-habitats/species/sebastes-miniatus#state-record |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=wdfw.wa.gov |language=en}}</ref>

Many other fish species occur in Puget Sound, such as [[sturgeon]]s, [[lamprey]]s, and various cartilaginous like fish [[shark]]s, [[Chimaera|chimeras]], [[Batoidea|rays]], and [[Skate (fish)|skates]].<ref name=":2">{{cite web |url= http://www.burkemuseum.org/static/FishKey/ |title= Taxonomic List of Puget Sound Fishes |publisher= Burke Museum |access-date= August 6, 2014 |archive-date= July 15, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140715200518/http://www.burkemuseum.org/static/FishKey/ |url-status= live }}</ref>
[[File:February 2, 2012 Wolf Eel (really a fish!) in Puget Sound (6842178290).jpg|left|thumb|185x185px|A [[wolf eel]] (''Anarrhichthys ocellatus'') in Puget Sound ]]
Puget Sound is home to numerous species of marine [[invertebrate]]s, including [[sponge]]s, [[sea anemone]]s, [[chiton]]s, [[clam]]s, [[sea snail]]s, [[limpet]]s, [[crab]]s, [[barnacle]]s, [[starfish]], [[sea urchin]]s, and [[sand dollar]]s.<ref name="Kruckeberg-1991-p79">{{harvnb |Kruckeberg |1991 |p=[https://archive.org/details/naturalhistoryof0000kruc/page/78/mode/2up 79]}}</ref> [[Dungeness Crab in Puget Sound|Dungeness crabs]] (''Metacarcinus magister'') occur throughout Washington waters, including Puget Sound.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/3-dungeness-crabs |title= Dungeness Crabs |publisher= Encyclopedia of Puget Sound |access-date= August 6, 2014 |archive-date= August 8, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140808055728/http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/3-dungeness-crabs |url-status= live }}</ref> Many [[bivalve]]s occur in Puget Sound, such as [[Pacific oyster]]s (''Crassostrea gigas'') and [[geoduck]] clams (''Panopea generosa''). The [[Ostrea lurida|Olympia oyster]] (''Ostrea lurida''), once common in Puget Sound, was depleted by human activities during the 20th century. There are ongoing efforts to restore Olympia oysters in Puget Sound.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/1-bivalves |title= Bivalves |publisher= Encyclopedia of Puget Sound |access-date= August 6, 2014 |archive-date= October 26, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141026065117/http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/1-bivalves |url-status= live }}</ref>

In 1967, an initial scuba survey estimated that were "about 110 million pounds of geoducks" (pronounced "gooey ducks") situated in Puget Sound's sediments.<ref name="Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife">{{cite web |title=Commercial wild stock geoduck clam fishery |publisher=Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife |url=https://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/commercial/geoduck#history-fishery |at=History of the fishery |access-date=March 13, 2024}}</ref> Also known as "king clam," geoducks are considered to be a delicacy in Asian countries.

There are many [[seabird]] species in Puget Sound. Among these are [[grebe]]s such as the [[western grebe]] (''Aechmophorus occidentalis''); [[loon]]s such as the [[common loon]] (''Gavia immer''); [[auk]]s such as the [[pigeon guillemot]] (''Cepphus columba''), [[rhinoceros auklet]] (''Cerorhinca monocerata''), [[common murre]] (''Uria aalge''), and [[marbled murrelet]] (''Brachyramphus marmoratus''); the [[brant goose]] (''Branta bernicla''); [[Merginae|sea ducks]] such as the [[long-tailed duck]] (''Clangula hyemalis''), [[harlequin duck]] (''Histrionicus histrionicus''), and [[surf scoter]] (''Melanitta perspicillata''); and [[cormorant]]s such as the [[double-crested cormorant]] (''Phalacrocorax auritus''). Puget Sound is home to a non-migratory and marine-oriented subspecies of [[great blue heron]]s (''Ardea herodias fannini'').<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/9-marine-birds |title= Marine birds |publisher= Encyclopedia of Puget Sound |access-date= August 6, 2014 |archive-date= October 26, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141026053728/http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/9-marine-birds |url-status= live }}</ref> [[Bald eagle]]s (''Haliaeetus leucocephalus'') occur in relative high densities in the Puget Sound region.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/10-bald-eagles |title= Bald eagles |publisher= Encyclopedia of Puget Sound |access-date= August 6, 2014 |archive-date= October 26, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141026053411/http://www.eopugetsound.org/science-review/10-bald-eagles |url-status= live }}</ref>