Justin Cox
SeaDoc Society Adds a New Scientist!

The SeaDoc Society has hired a new full-time veterinary translational scientist, who will join the team on Orcas Island starting this summer. 

Dr. Michelle Barbieri Lino, who interned with SeaDoc as a veterinary student back in 2009, monitoring the marine mammal stranding network among other roles, will be moving to Orcas Island with her husband and 7-year-old daughter this summer. 

Justin Cox
Nature is Not a Luxury

SeaDoc is a science-based marine conservation program. We understand that science informs policy, including priority setting and budgeting.

Washington State faces difficult budget choices. With multi-billion-dollar shortfalls, lawmakers are scrutinizing every line item. In moments like this, funding that supports biodiversity — everything from living soil to forests, from bugs to whales, and from mountain streams to the sea—can look like a luxury. It is not.

Nature is Not a Luxury
Justin Cox
Welcome Two New Science Advisors; Farewell Meg ...

Science is at the foundation of everything we do at SeaDoc—from Salish Sea Wild and Pod of Orcas to our efforts to inform policy. For decades our Scientific Advisory Committee has played a vital role on that front. 

The Committee is made up of respected individual scientists doing important work throughout the Salish Sea. This month we say a heartfelt goodbye to one longtime advisor, Meg Chadsey, and we welcome two new exciting additions, Jennifer Russell and Lisa Watkins.

Justin Cox
Science With an Impact: Giles Talks Southern ...

The SeaDoc Society's Dr. Deborah Giles traveled to Washington DC in early February to meet with legislators, including Washington State Senator Patty Murray, and other senior legislative staff members from both the House and Senate.

Justin Cox
Thanks, Michelle!

After years as part of our small but mighty Admin Team, our friend and coworker Michelle Homewood completed her time at SeaDoc last month. She’ll now embark on the exciting next chapter of her career.

As an Administrative Assistant with SeaDoc, Michelle’s hands were on everything from arranging field-work logistics to processing the donations that make that work possible.

Thanks, Michelle!

SeaDoc Awards Salish Sea Science Prize to Crab Team For Early Detection and Prevention of Invasive European Green Crab

SeaDoc Awards Salish Sea Science Prize to Crab Team For Early Detection and Prevention of Invasive European Green Crab

The European green crab is a damaging invasive species that has wreaked havoc on ecosystems around the world, and recently they’ve found their way into the Salish Sea. Thanks to Washington Sea Grant’s Crab Team, major scientifically based efforts are being made to stop its spread before it starts. For this use of science to improve the health of the Salish Sea, this Earth Day they have been announced as winners of the SeaDoc Society’s 2020 Salish Sea Science Prize, which comes with a $2,000 no-strings-attached cash award.

When introduced into ecosystems outside of its native range, the green crab’s impact has been both ecological and economic. Not only do they disturb native habitat, displace resident species and alter natural food webs, but they have decimated shellfish industries upon which livelihoods depend. Amid the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Crab Team’s work is a reminder that intervention is most effective before the impacts of an invasion even become visible.

Different Killer Whales, Different Teeth (Interactive)

Different Killer Whales, Different Teeth (Interactive)

Three different types of killer whales can be found in the Salish Sea. They don’t mix, even though they look similar to humans and live in the same place. They are genetically distinct, and they don’t breed with one another. They have different calls, different behavioral patterns, and they eat different prey.

2020 Wine & Sea Auction Cancelled 

2020 Wine & Sea Auction Cancelled 

As many of you may have already guessed, we have canceled the 2020 SeaDoc Society Wine & Sea Auction due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. This event was originally planned for July 11th on Orcas Island. This annual fundraiser is one of our favorite days of the year because it allows us to gather with you, our supporters, and celebrate our shared accomplishments and make investments in future ones. At this time, however, our collective health is most important, and we look forward to the time when we can come together again.

Where Are You Finding Hope in These Times?

Where Are You Finding Hope in These Times?

Last week our Science Director, Joe Gaydos, shared a message of compassion and hope during this time of social distancing and COVID-19. It can be difficult to think about anything right now besides the pandemic that has is staying in place. In Joe’s message, he suggested the ocean as a place to send your mind in search of natural beauty and inspiration.

We want to know: What are you thinking about to maintain hope during these times? What are you doing each day that might inspire others? Submit your thoughts below and we’ll compile them in our next newsletter. Stay safe!

Salish Sea Wild: The Tufted Puffins of Destruction Island

Salish Sea Wild: The Tufted Puffins of Destruction Island

On a risky mission to remote, rugged Destruction Island, Team SeaDoc tries to solve the mysteries of the Tufted Puffin in the hopes of saving this charismatic seabird from local extinction.

We are releasing this special cut of the episode as the spreading pandemic keeps us all in our homes. We hope you enjoy. Stay safe and stay healthy.

We’re Part of the Top Veterinary School in the World

We’re Part of the Top Veterinary School in the World

We’re thrilled to share that once again the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine has been named the top veterinary school in the world!

While SeaDoc Society is a self-sustaining program on Orcas Island whose scientific and educational work is focused entirely on improving the health of the Salish Sea, we are proud to be a program of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, a center of excellence at UC Davis’ incredible veterinary school. This week’s #1 ranking comes from the highly reputable Quacquarelli Symonds, but Davis is also number one with U.S. News and World Reports and several other world rankings. It’s the best of the best, and we’re lucky to have such brilliant people on our side.

SeaDoc Board Member Publishes Beautiful New Book: Pacific Flyway

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pacific-flyway

SeaDoc Board Member Audrey Benedict and her team spoke about their new book on the Pacific Flyway to a packed house last night at Seattle’s Town Hall this week! Weaving powerful images with a science narrative, this book portrays the amazing lives of migratory birds along the America’s Pacific Flyway. It’s also an urgent call for conservation and stewardship. You can read more at www.sasquatchbooks.com.

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Buy on Amazon

About the book:

The migratory waterbirds of the Pacific Flyway convert food, air, and water into a mileage plan that has few equals in the animal world. Set against a backdrop of stunning images from more than 120 internationally acclaimed photographers, this book shares the amazing stories of these migrants--a cast of characters that includes shorebirds, seabirds, and waterfowl.

Stretching from the Arctic regions of northeastern Russia, Alaska, and western Canada and along the Pacific coastlines of North, Central, and South America, the Pacific Flyway traverses some of our planet's greatest climatic and topographic extremes. Defined by water, the flyway encompasses a sweeping expanse of coastal and offshore marine ecosystems and an inland archipelago of freshwater wetlands. Hemispheric in scope, this integrated network of ecosystems is linked by its moving parts--the millions of migratory birds whose lives depend on this 10,000-mile (16,000-km) corridor as they travel between their breeding and overwintering grounds. With their ocean- and continent-spanning travels, waterbirds are our sentinels in a changing world--each of their journeys revealing the fraying edges of the web of life that sustains us all. Pacific Flyway perfectly blends amazing photography, science writing, and storytelling to illuminate the profound challenges faced by migratory birds and to inspire a longterm commitment to global conservation efforts.

Killer Whale Health Database Gets Another Round of Support from Microsoft Azure

Killer Whale Health Database Gets Another Round of Support from Microsoft Azure

We’re thrilled to announce that Microsoft Azure has once again extended their support of our ongoing creation of the Killer Whale Health Database through their AI For Earth program. The database, which aims to house a wealth of valuable health data, is currently being developed by The SeaDoc Society and the National Marine Mammal Foundation.

The AI For Earth grant, which was initially awarded to SeaDoc in 2018, offers Microsoft Azure’s cloud-computing platform and assistance with artificial intelligence computing tools for comprehensive data analysis.

Salish Sea Wild: Finding Your Inner Mermaid

In this episode, Joe meets a local mermaid who teaches him about the wonders of freediving in the Salish Sea. Not only does it involve far less gear than scuba diving, but it lets you become one with the environment! Without the heavy tanks and endless bubbles, people are not so much alien visitors as we are fellow marine mammals. All you need is a mask and a wetsuit to get in on the action!

Calling for 2020 Salish Sea Science Prize Nominations

Calling for 2020 Salish Sea Science Prize Nominations

Biennially, the SeaDoc Society awards the Salish Sea Science Prize to a prominent scientist or team of scientists whose work has resulted in the marked improvement of management or policy related to the conservation of marine wildlife and the Salish Sea marine ecosystem. Non-scientists who have used science in a substantial way to improve management or policy related to healing the Salish Sea also will be considered. This is the only award of its kind. The recipient(s) does not need to be a resident of Washington or British Columbia as long as their scientific efforts or use of science have led to measurable impacts on the Salish Sea ecosystem. The $2,000 prize comes with no strings attached and is designed to highlight the importance of science in providing a foundation for designing a healthy Salish Sea ecosystem. This award is given in recognition of and to honor Stephanie Wagner, who loved the region and its wildlife.

Help Our Lost Killer Whale Find the Salish Sea (VIDEO)

Only 5% of Washingtonians and 14% of British Columbians know what the Salish Sea is. So we did what any good scientific organization would do and hit the streets of Seattle while wearing a killer whale costume to see if they know the name of the sea right in their backyard. Could they help our orca find the Salish Sea?

Cutthroats Surviving Upstream Against All Odds

Cutthroats Surviving Upstream Against All Odds

Locals throughout the Salish Sea have long told stories of coastal cutthroat trout, with their distinctive blood-red slashes at the base of their jaws, flourishing right here in our streams. That’s far from the case now, but it was enough evidence for SeaDoc to fund a unique collaboration of scientists to scout the small streams of the San Juan Islands for these native “cutts,” the least-studied of all local salmonid species.

That team of scientists from Wild Fish Conservancy, Long Live the Kings, Speckled Trout Consulting, Kwiaht, and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recently published their findings in Conservation Genetics. You can read it in full here: Genetic composition and conservation status of coastal cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki) in the San Juan Islands, Washington. The paper was written by Jamie Glasgow, Jennifer D. De Groot, and Maureen P. Small.

Giving Thanks for Bill Ruckelshaus

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Bill Ruckelshaus, first and fifth head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Deputy Attorney General of the U.S., acting Director of the FBI, a Member of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy, founding Chair of the Puget Sound Partnership and the recipient of the highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He served four Presidents and three Governors and was mentor and friend to both me and the SeaDoc Society.

I first met Bill when he played an instrumental role in setting up Washington’s Puget Sound Partnership under Governor Gregoire. Over the years, I was so impressed that a person of his stature and intellect always graciously took time to answer my questions and guide be on policy and process needed to improve the health of the Salish Sea for the benefit of people, wildlife and our economy.

Salish Sea Wild: The Salish Sea’s Greatest Spectacle

Salish Sea Wild: The Salish Sea’s Greatest Spectacle

Team SeaDoc witnesses the Pacific Northwest’s most awesome wildlife spectacle as more than 100 million spawning herring lure the greatest annual gathering of Salish Sea predators to the Strait of Georgia. Join us for front-row seats above and below the water as thousands of marine mammals and seabirds, hundreds of hungry raptors, and packs of killer whales assemble for the feast.