The Center for Whale Research (CWR) has spent more than 40 years focused on the study and conservation of the Southern Resident Killer whale (orca) population – J, K and L Pods. Orcas are one of the few species on the planet for which we have collected complete and detailed family data. CWR tracks and shares information on births and deaths, social behavior, geographic location foraging patterns, and encounters with humans.
Listed in alphabetical order
Based in British Columbia, the Georgia Strait Alliance (GSA) works to protect the northern half of our Salish Sea. They monitor wildlife, habitat, pollution, and vessel traffic in the Strait of Georgia and drive education and outreach programs to motivate the rest of us to protect this ecosystem. They produce a wealth of helpful reports and host a variety of events, including an amazing film festival.
Based in Seattle, the team at Long Live the Kings has been working to restore salmon and steelhead populations in the Salish Sea since 1986. In the summer of 2021, they published the results of 5 years of research from the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project which explains the myriad of issues impacting the survival of juvenile salmon in the Salish Sea.
Based in British Columbia, Ocean Wise is actively working to inspire all of us to understand and care for our ocean. Their programs span education, shoreline cleanups, plastic pollution, overfishing and research including the Whale Report app you can install on your phone to report detailed information about whale sightings in the Salish Sea.
Are you a boater in search of a place to tie up without dropping an anchor? Or perhaps you have a private dock or mooring buoy that goes unused? OnBuoy can help you…and our local marine ecosystem. The OnBuoy crew reached out to me because they are working to protect our local waters, too. While I don’t have a boat now, I grew up on boats and know that dragging an anchor across the sea floor can cause a lot of damage to the ecosystem down there. By adding their tie-up to the OnBuoy network, dock and buoy owners provide a benefit to fellow boaters in search of an anchor-less place to tie up. And if that’s not innovative enough, each time an owner hosts a fellow boater on their tie-up, OnBuoy SPC donates a percentage of the proceeds to a local marine charity. Win-win-win for all involved!
I am an active volunteer and financial supporter of Puget Soundkeeper. They patrol local waters to identify and clean up sources of pollution, engage with businesses, government and the community to develop policy solutions, and educate the community on conservation strategies. Volunteering is fun! You can patrol in a kayak or power boat, clean up beaches, deploy mussels to measure toxins or use microscopes to measure microplastics in local water samples.
The SeaDoc Society conducts research to uncover the environmental factors threatening to unravel the web of life in the Salish Sea and surrounding watersheds. It is a part of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Check out their Salish Sea Wild YouTube channel. They also focus on education with a particularly good “Junior SeaDoctors” program for kids.
The Seattle Aquarium is working to regenerate the health of our marine environment both here in the Salish Sea and also across our one-world ocean. Not only is it a great place for hands-on experiences and conservation education, the scientists on staff lead conservation work in the field including the recovery of endangered species populations, microplastics research, and kelp forest restoration projects. They have also put a ton of content online including games for kids, virtual field trips, and a wonderful assortment of animal videos. No one can resist the live Otter Cam, but the Giant Pacific Octopus might take the prize for the coolest creature of all time!
SR3 (Sealife Response + Rehab + Research)
A team of doctors, emergency responders, and researchers are working to assist injured animals, rehabilitate them, and conduct research to understand how to protect them. They have recently opened the first marine wildlife hospital in Washington / Oregon. Their photogrammetry (using drone photography to make accurate measurements) of the orcas is revealing new insights into the health of each individual whale.
This is a grassroots organization that has been working for 35 years to keep our coastal waters and beaches clean. They have 8 chapters and 4 student clubs across Washington State and British Columbia that will welcome your help.
The Sustainable Lands Strategy (SLS) was established with the intent that fish, farm, and flood management advocates can make more progress by working together than by being at odds with each other. SLS is a forum of organizations, agencies, and individuals that are working to balance the need to restore vital salmon habitat while also protecting the viability of local agriculture in Snohomish County.
From the #1 Oceanography program in the country, to the Puget Sound Institute, to Friday Harbor Labs, and to the global reach of the R/V (research vessel) Thomas G. Thompson, UW is leading the way in marine research.
Washington Environmental Council
The Washington State Environmental Council (WEC) builds and leads partnerships, mobilizes the public, engages decision-makers, and takes legal action to enact and enforce environmental protection policy and ensure a sustainable future. I saw them in action last fall as they effectively mobilized the community through the Environmental Priorities Coalition to persuade the Washington State legislature to pass bills that remove plastic from our marine environment and update our greenhouse gas limits.
Located in the center of the Salish Sea on San Juan Island, the team at the Whale Museum has been inspiring stewards for the marine environment since 1976. Their programs include the Whale Hotline, Marine Mammal Stranding Network, Soundwatch Boater Education, SeaSound Remote Sensing Network, and Marine Naturalist Training (MNTP). I can recommend the 6-day MNTP class – I learned a ton about the Salish Sea and the animals and plants that call it home.