People For Puget Sound is a citizens' group working to protect and restore the health of Puget Sound and the Northwest Straits through education and action. Our vision is a clean and healthy Sound, teeming with fish and wildlife, cared for by people who live here.

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About Sam Wright

2008 Magnuson Sound Legacy Award

Sam Wright

Sam Wright has worked as a fish biologist for over 45 years, managing fish populations and habitat, including 32
years with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

While salmon have been the “glamour” species attracting most of the public and government attention, Sam has been a tireless champion of protecting and enhancing marine fish populations in Puget Sound, including rockfish and herring. Since his retirement from government, Sam has become the leading advocate for these under-appreciated fish.

As an expert on salmon as well, his most important recent accomplishments relative to Puget Sound have been as lead author of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) Petition that led to the listing of Puget Sound Chinook salmon, lead author of the State's Wild Salmonid Policy, author of the ESA Petition that led to the listing of Puget Sound steelhead and as author of the ESA Petition that led to an official review of five species of Puget Sound rockfish.

See "Guardians of the Sound," Seattle PI, Nov. 19, 2002.