Forage fish surveys

Skagit MRC’s Salish Sea Stewards coordinates volunteer efforts through the summer to monitor surf smelt spawning at Bowman Bay and local beaches. Surf smelt, a species of vital forage fish, spawn in large schools on sandy or gravelly shores during high tides.

Volunteers collect sandy gravel samples, process them to isolate surf smelt eggs, and document beach conditions. Microscopic analysis provides insights into egg quantity and development. Data are submitted to the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, guiding conservation efforts and protecting spawning sites through regulatory measures and targeted restoration.

A big thank you to all the volunteers and supporters who make these efforts possible!

Learn more about forage fish surveys

Needs Assessment framework

Snohomish MRC and the Northwest Straits Commission partnered with University of Washington Evans School Capstone Students to develop a Needs Assessment framework for MRCs to inform the MRCs strategic planning efforts.

This project builds upon the Needs Assessment process originally created and implemented by Island MRC as a method to identify local pressing and emerging marine resource issues and inform strategic planning.

The full report by the UW Evans School team and a summary and one-pager are available in our resource library.

Aerial surveys

San Juan MRC is conducting aerial surveys to study the density of recreational boating in sensitive habitats this summer. Systematic line-transect surveys will be flown at least twice per month until September. This project aims to understand the connection between boater activity and the health of eelgrass habitats, identifying impact hotspots or priority sites for protection and restoration.

In addition to aerial surveys, MRC members and volunteers will perform shore-based vessel counts and engage in outreach activities, such as Dock Talks, to educate boaters about the importance of kelp and eelgrass beds. They will distribute Green Boating materials from Friends of the San Juans and Whale Warning Flags while emphasizing the problem derelict vessels pose to the environment. Fieldwork for benthic habitat mapping is also scheduled, focusing on shallow areas where boaters anchor, to gather crucial data on bathymetry and benthic habitat types at several under-studied sites.

Learn more about eelgrass protection and vessel monitoring