Current Research Projects

Beaudreau, Anne, Principal Investigator

Floodplains and food webs: evaluating the benefits of tidal delta restoration for Chinook salmon and their prey

Researchers assess the effects of restoration on Chinook salmon in the Stillaguamish estuary.

Carini, Roxanne, Principal Investigator

Coasts – Camera – Action: community-driven research for adapting to Willapa Bay’s rapidly changing north shore

Researchers use a combination of participatory action and community-science research techniques to amplify the voices of community members directly affected by coastal hazards and erosion and to provide sustainable, long-term tracking of quantitative beach metrics.

Carrington, Emily, Principal Investigator

A collaborative partnership to address mass mortalities in oyster aquaculture through improved field monitoring, husbandry practices, and workforce development

A partnership of academic, industry, federal and tribal stakeholders contributes knowledge, expertise, and resources to safeguard aquaculture production by improving the climate tolerance of OsHV-1 resilient oyster lines currently in development.

Converse, Sarah, Principal Investigator

Integrating community science data with long-term aerial surveys to understand seasonal and long-term shifts in marine bird use of Puget Sound

Researchers aim to support ongoing robust assessments of the status and trends of marine bird species in Puget Sound through the application of long-term monitoring data and customized quantitative methods.

Dimond, James, Principal Investigator

Characterizing rocky intertidal communities to assess resilience and inform management and conservation

Researchers collect key information needed to predict SLR impacts on rocky intertidal habitat availability in order to better understand the potential for resilience in species dependent on this habitat.

Essington, Timothy, Principal Investigator

Climate change, distribution shifts, and choke species: A threat assessment to advance fishery ecosystem planning

Researchers compile existing trawl surveys to examine groundfish distribution patterns that are driven by temperature and oxygen levels; using models, they will use this information to project future short- and long-term distribution trends as the ocean continues to change.

Hauser, Lorenz, Principal Investigator

Distinct population segments in Puget Sound rockfishes (Sebastes spp): improving management of a vulnerable species complex

Researchers develop a new tool for assessing population structures of rockfish, based on genetic markers for eight rockfish species in Puget Sound.

Hauser, Lorenz, Principal Investigator

Like a fish out of water: Seasonal variation in spawning habitats and spatio-temporal genetic adaptation of a climate-vulnerable species

Researchers educate target groups about physical and biological habitat requirements of summer and winter spawning Surf Smelt in the Salish Sea and the Washington coast.

Kastner, Sam, Principal Investigator

Physical processes in clam gardens

Researchers conduct the first physical process study of the first clam garden built wholly in the modern era to assess the role of these processes in promoting clam growth.

Naish, Kerry, Principal Investigator

Coastal ecosystem resilience: how eelgrass donor population structure influences restoration success

Researchers leverage an existing “common garden” experiment at an established eelgrass restoration site to investigate how donor choice affects restoration success and resilience to future environmental change.

Norman, Emma, Principal Investigator

Indigenizing science: Applying the Thirteen Moons framework to an Indigenous research paradigm to understand Indigenous aquaculture practices

Researchers are developing a methodology to study Indigenous aquaculture that incorporates the practices and frameworks of the Lummi Nation, with the aim of promoting Indigenous self-determination, knowledge, learning and science.

Padilla-Gamiño, Jacqueline, Principal Investigator

Unblocking bottlenecks in recovery of endangered pinto abalone populations

Research sheds light on best practices for growing pinto abalone, an endangered species in Washington; findings such as determining coralline algae and GABA to be effective settlement cues could help the success of restoration efforts.

Poe, Melissa, Principal Investigator

Cross-Pacific Indigenous Aquaculture Hub

Cross-Pacific regional partners form a collaborative hub integrating research, outreach, and education to advance sustainable Indigenous Aquaculture practices.

Roberts, Steven, Principal Investigator

Readying sustainable aquaculture for a changing ocean: uncovering the mechanisms associated with intergenerational carryover effects to enhance bivalve resilience to acidification

Using cutting-edge genomics technology, researchers develop a novel method for growing oysters for the shellfish industry that are more stable, amenable to breeding, and cost effective than the triploid oyster.

Scordino, Jonathan, Principal Investigator

Two-eyed seeing in practice: Participatory modeling to evaluate pinniped hunting in Puget Sound as a tool for salmon recovery

Research provides tribal fishery managers with the tools needed to make informed decisions about pinniped management that support salmon recovery and affirm Tribal treaty rights.

Sofield, Ruth, Principal Investigator

Legacy and emerging contaminants in seaweeds of interest for Washington state aquaculture development

Researchers conduct the first comprehensive assessment of seaweed contamination that considers seasonality in Washington, collecting seaweed samples that they will use to analyze how contaminants of concern vary among species and over time.

Toft, Jodie, Principal Investigator

Sustaining marine forests: A genomics and experimental approach to inform bull kelp restoration, aquaculture and conservation

Researchers investigate the genetic population structure of Salish Sea bull kelp forests to inform restoration and aquaculture.

Unsell, Elizabeth, Principal Investigator

Cultivating a sustainable future for basket cockles and tribal communities: restoring access to a preferred traditional First Food

Researchers aim to advance sustainable hatchery production techniques by exploring breeding strategies that maximize genetic diversity.