Citizen Science Opportunities this Summer on the Salish Sea
Help take care of our waters and beaches by joining these marine science opportunities in Washington State and British Columbia.
What is a Citizen Scientist?
A member of the general public who collects and analyzes data relating to the natural world, typically as part of a collaborative project with professional scientists, (per Google)
Becoming a citizen scientist from the Rainshadow Journal
Washington State
Washington Sea Grant - Volunteer Opportunities
Green Crab Monitoring Program - The European green crab (Carcinus maenas) is considered one of the world’s 100 worst invasive species. Its impacts on the Washington Coast appear to have been minimal to date, but its potential effects on inland ecosystems are uncertain.
King Tides - Ecosystems, infrastructure and people will be impacted by the phenomenon of climate change and rising sea levels. The King Tides Program and community events inform coastal dwellers about twice-yearly extreme tides. Citizens’ photos of king tides are posted on the website.The website helps local communities and decision makers visualize the challenges we will face as the climate changes.
Kitsap Watershed Stewardship - Continuing education opportunities deepen Puget Sound shoreline residents’ understanding of intertidal natural history and conservation, shoreline restoration and other watershed issues, building their capacity to inform the public and contribute to local monitoring programs.
WSG, in collaboration with Washington State University’s Kitsap County Extension, coordinates and trains volunteers for the Kitsap Watershed Stewardship Program, which includes:
Sound Toxins - SoundToxins is assisting the State Department of Health by providing early warning of harmful algal bloom events with phytoplankton monitoring
Cooperative and Citizen Science on Puget Sound Rockfish
Working with the recreational fishing and SCUBA diving communities to collect data and measure recovery of endangered and threatened rockfish species in Puget Sound.
The listing of three rockfish species (Sebastes spp.) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2010 motivated the development of a cooperative research program between government agencies and the local recreational fishing and SCUBA diving communities of Puget Sound, WA.
This program examines rockfish life history characteristics, movement behavior, young-of-year recruitment, and the population responses to fishing in Puget Sound.
Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society
Community Science Projects:
Pigeon Guillemot Survey - The Salish Sea Guillemot Network monitoring program began with the Whidbey Audubon Society some years ago. It has grown into a region-wide program with over 200 volunteers. Clallam County's efforts are sponsored and managed by the County's Marine Resources Committee (MRC). About 25 Clallam volunteers monitor 15 nesting sites. OPAS members are active in the volunteer ranks.
Puget Sound Seabird Survey - Seattle Audubon’s Puget Sound Seabird Survey (PSSS) is a community science program where volunteer birdwatchers gather data on seabird populations.
The program, managed by Seattle Audubon, trains volunteer birdwatchers to gather valuable data on wintering seabird populations in Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca, and waters surrounding the San Juan Islands.
Purple Martin Next Box Project - Read and view the latest news and videos of the OPAS Purple Martin (PUMA) Nest Box Project.
Read more about these and three more projects
Sustainable Bainbridge
Sustainable Bainbridge supports a variety of citizen scientist programs such as their Beach Naturalists who have been trained by WSU Extension Beach Naturalists program and the Seattle Aquarium Beach Naturalist program.
Their Watershed Council offers programs such the Bainbridge Island Beach Cleanup, salmon monitoring and more.
Learn more about their programs
NW Straits Fund
The NW Straits Fund offers citizen scientist opportunities throughout Puget Sound plus other volunteer options, beach walks and more.
Check out their North Sound Stewards, Salish Sea Stewards and South Water Stewards. Learn More
British Columbia Opportunities
BC Marine Trails -
BC Marine Trails offers paddlers hundreds of paddle-in campsites and day use spots throughout British Columbia.
They also offer a few opportunities such as their Gerald Island project where twice a year volunteers remove invasive species. Their Vargas Island Project is focused on removing beach debris.
Their Coastal Caretaker program helps maintain campsites applying five tasks which includes cleaning beach debris, marine life and sea bird observations, data collection and keeping campsites clean of debris.
Parks Canada
Parks Canada offers a few citizen scientist options and offer their iNaturalist app to record plant and wildlife observations. Learn More
Ocean Networks Canada
WhaleWise offers opportunities for shoreline clean ups and to contribute to their whale report sightings. Learn More
The Science division for the Government of Canada as a Citizen Scientist portal with many options to volunteer, check it out here.
Surfrider South Vancouver Island
Surfrider offers 12 beach cleanup opportunities around Victoria and as far west as Witty’s Lagoon and French Beachcollecting as much as 936kg of debris annually. Learn More
Check out this extensive list from Nature Vancouver of citizen scientist opportunities.
Related Posts:
Beach Cleanup Finds on the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Beginner’s Guide to Salish Sea Tides
Learn to Paddle with Me!
I Provide Personalized Surf Ski and SUP Coaching in Seattle
Through my business Salmon Bay Paddle, I offer 1-1 and 2-person personalized paddling lessons for sups and surf skis in the Seattle area and beyond for all skill levels.
Whether starting as a total beginner or as an advanced paddler seeking to refine skills I can help you reach your goals.
I provide training for touring, learning about tidal currents and trip planning, paddling safely in Deception Pass, surfing freighter waves in Seattle and more.