About Washington Sea Grant

Mission

Washington Sea Grant serves communities, industries and the people of Washington state, the Pacific Northwest and the nation through research, education and outreach by:

Background

Established in 1968, Washington Sea Grant (WSG) began as a federal experiment in local investment, building on the University of Washington’s academic strengths in marine science, engineering and policy.  In 1971, it became one of the first four programs designated nationally as a Sea Grant College. 

Today, WSG is part of a national network of 30 Sea Grant colleges administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce.  This network provides a stable national infrastructure of programs in every coastal and Great Lakes state and in Puerto Rico, with an additional project in Guam.

Research

Washington Sea Grant-sponsored research maximizes the productive use of marine resources while preserving and, if necessary, helping to restore the essential qualities of a healthy marine environment.  Research is centered on five key program areas:

For more information, please see the Research Web page.

Outreach (Marine Advisory Services)

Outreach efforts are a central component of Sea Grant. Specialists in Marine Advisory Services and Communications, as well as WSG-funded researchers, work individually and in teams, reaching out to the marine community with program-generated information.

Marine Advisory Services links university resources and expertise with local communities and user groups. MAS specialists and field agents work in a broad range of topic areas including aquaculture, fisheries, coastal economic development, coastal tourism, ports and marine transportation, water quality, small oil spill prevention, public safety and safety at sea, marine and aquatic education, global environmental change, and marine technology training.

Education

WSG educates the workforce and informs the public as a means of sustaining the vitality of marine resources and the enviable lifestyle in Washington and the Pacific Northwest.

WSG works with institutions of higher learning throughout the state to maintain a high standard of teaching and research. It provides K-12 teacher training on marine topics and works closely with educational programs and information services to disseminate information on marine resources and the environment to the public.

Many WSG research and education projects involve the training of graduate and undergraduate students, as well as post-doctoral investigators. WSG presents students with opportunities to compete for many different fellowship and internship programs.

Communications

Washington Sea Grant Communications keeps the public informed about current research and technology and promotes the understanding of marine issues among industry, educators and marine resource users.

The Communications office maintains a publications database, produces and distributes informational brochures, pamphlets and books, creates public exhibits and responds to media inquiries about Sea Grant activities and research.

Program Guidance

The WSG Advisory Committee provides general program oversight, direction and advice. The Committee was established in August 2006 with an initial core membership of eight key stakeholders and federal and state partners, as well as two ex-officio members:

Kenneth K. Chew
Commissioner
Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission

Robert F. Goodwin
Coastal Resources Specialist (retired)
Washington Sea Grant

G. Ross Heath
Professor, Marine Geology and Geophysics
School of Oceanography, University of Washington

Ed Johnstone
Fisheries Policy Spokesperson
Quinault Indian Nation

Linda Kirk Fox
Dean and Director
Washington State University Extension

Scott Miller
Co-Director
Resource Media

Walter Pereyra
Chairman
Arctic Storm Management Group, Inc.

Terry Stevens
Director
Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

Senator Dan Swecker
Washington Fish Growers Association

Usha Varanasi
Science and Research Director
NOAA Fisheries Northwest Fisheries Science Center

Ex-Officio Members

Penelope Dalton
Director
Washington Sea Grant

Arthur R.M. Nowell
Dean
College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington

For additional information

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