Olympia oyster restoration. Photo: WDFW
Olympia Oyster Restoration
Tiny Olympia oysters used to flourish in the waters of Puget Sound, but overharvesting and pollution brought them to near extinction. Marine Resources Committees, in partnership with multiple organizations, are working to restore native Olympia oyster populations in their historic range in the Northwest Straits region.
Project Details
Harbor Seal. Photo credit: Florian Graner
Kelp Plan
Vibrant kelp forests are vital to the health of Puget Sound and Salish Sea. The Kelp Plan provides a research and management framework for coordinated action. Learn more about the Kelp Plan, related resources, efforts, and ways to help below. Contact the Project Coordinator if you or your organization are interested in the Kelp Plan.
Project Details
Forage Fish
Pacific herring, sand lance, surf smelt, and other forage fish are key to the health of marine food webs throughout the Salish Sea. They are fuel for endangered seabirds, salmon and orca whales. They are bait for commercial and sport fisheries and a tasty treat to many people.
Project Details
SoundIQ
SoundIQ allows us to visually illustrate our projects on a map in the context of other important natural resource information. Embedded in the SoundIQ maps are links to the data and reports associated with Northwest Straits projects. Learn more about our work by visiting SoundIQ. Find more information and a link to SoundIQ below.
Project Details
Forage fish workshop attendees at Cornet Bay Retreat Center. (Elise Adams).
Island MRC’s forage fish lead, Kirk Larsen and workshop facilitator, Emily Bishop, hosted the Forage Fish Community-based Research Workshop at the Cornet Bay Retreat Center on April 27. The event brought together local forage fish researchers, managers, and citizen scientists to discuss regional needs management connections, and the most effective next steps for advancing forage fish research in the Salish Sea.
Forage fish such as Pacific sand lance and surf smelt are a critical food source for salmon, seabirds, and marine mammals. Because these species rely on specific nearshore habitats, coordinated monitoring helps support effective shoreline management and restoration across the Salish Sea. The workshop provided a space to connect community science efforts with regional research and management needs.
“The idea was to bring together a wide variety of people who focus on forage fish, across disciplines and discuss what this work looks like in 5-10 years.” - Ken Collins, Island MRC representative to the Commission
Workshop follow up includes reviewing discussions and insights and incorporating them into future monitoring, collaboration opportunities, and community science initiatives.
The MRC continues year-round forage fish egg monitoring, with teams conducting monthly monitoring at sites on Whidbey Island and Camano Island. Learn more about Island MRC’s forage fish monitoring.
The Northwest Straits Commission is a regional coordinating body comprised of people who care about the marine areas where they live, and who work together to protect and restore marine resources.
The Northwest Straits Commission carries out regional conservation projects and supports the work of seven Marine Resources Committees through funding, technical support, training and regional coordination.
A budding biologist in action at Jefferson MRCs Searching for Seaweed event. (Betsy Carlson).
Great Islands Clean Up nurdle hunters. (Friends of the San Juans).
Snohomish MRC members Edmonds Watershed Fun Fair. (Snohomish MRC).
Member Spotlight: Natasha Cuomo
Jefferson MRC hosted the Searching for Seaweed Workshop in April at Point Hudson, Port Townsend. Reed Stevens of Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife led a group of 20 participants along the beach, identifying seaweeds and providing information on safe and sustainable harvesting. Learn more about Jefferson MRC’s education and outreach.
San Juan MRC is stepping into the busy summer season with a handful of outreach, stewardship and community engagement efforts. Dock talks returned on May 3, giving volunteers a chance to meet boaters, share best practices and highlight whale‑safe boating while vessel counts resumed at key eelgrass sites. That momentum carried into the spring Great Islands Cleanup, where 250 volunteers across five islands removed more than a ton of debris from 200 miles of shoreline, roads and trails. The season’s energy continued at the Friday Harbor Labs Open House, where more than 700 visitors stopped by to learn about marine stewardship as the MRC shared a trivia wheel and handed out whale warning flags. Learn more about San Juan MRC’s education and outreach.
Snohomish MRC reported strong community participation at the Edmonds Watershed Fun Fair in May, with more than 145 people stopping by their activities table to learn about forage fish, marine vegetation, and crab pot loss. Other presenters included City of Edmonds, Sound Salmon Solutions, Snohomish County Conservation District, and Xerces, the high school salmon club.
Volunteers led hands-on activities including protecting the eelgrass beds from anchors and remove a derelict crab pot with an ROV arm. One attendee said, “Thank you, I didn’t know any of this and I’ve lived here a long time.”
The MRC sends a huge thank you to volunteers for their time and support! Learn more about Snohomish MRC’s education and outreach.
Member Spotlight: Natasha Cuomo
Natasha Cuomo was inspired to help restore and protect the environment after moving here from Macedonia and seeing the wealth of marine resources in the Pacific Northwest.
Friday
June 26, 10:00 am - June 26, 12:00 pm
This meeting will be held virtually on Zoom.
Meeting materials will be available the week of the meeting.
Friday
July 24, 10:00 am - July 24, 3:00 pm
This meeting will be held in person in Clallam County. More details and information will be posted soon.
Meeting materials will be available the week of the meeting.
Friday
August 28, 10:00 am - August 28, 12:00 pm
This meeting will be held virtually on Zoom.
Meeting materials will be available the week of the meeting.
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