50 Years of Washington Sea Grant
An overview of WSG's coastal projects, research results and outreach programs that benefit Washington residents and our coastal ecosystems.
About Washington Sea Grant
Introduction
Since its inception, Washington Sea Grant (WSG) has been uniting resources from federal, state and local universities to provide tools, guidance and services benefiting the marine environment, economy and people of Washington.
This year, we celebrate our first 50 years of service with you. Help us look back and reflect upon the hurdles met and innovations gained — and look ahead and plan for an inspiring next 50 years!
Explore our Locations!
Look through this interactive map and explore our locations throughout the state of Washington.
Where Washington Sea Grant Works
Where Washington Sea Grant Works. Click to expand.
The following map tour offers a glimpse of where Washington Sea Grant (WSG) works.
Washington Sea Grant Office
Washington Sea Grant Office. Click to expand.
Since its inception in 1968, WSG has provided scientific research, outreach, communication and education to residents living within its 15 coastal counties. WSG's mission is to provide scientific and technical information for use by coastal and marine communities.
WSG in the Community
WSG in the Community. Click to expand.
The WSG outreach programs connect Washingtonians to research, information, and practical tools for sustainably using, managing, and enjoying our ocean and coastal resources.
European Gran Crab Monitoring Program
European Gran Crab Monitoring Program. Click to expand.
WSG's Crab Team trains volunteers to monitor for invasive European gran crab throughout the Salish Sea.
Clam Gardens: Reviving the Past to Protect the Future
Clam Gardens: Reviving the Past to Protect the Future. Click to expand.
WSG partnered on a project led by the Swinomish Tribe to revive clam gardens, a traditional maricultural practice. This work is enhancing native clam populations, supporting food security, and integrating indigenous knowledge into contemporary resource management.
Squaxin Island Community Garden
Squaxin Island Community Garden. Click to expand.
WSG social scientists worked with the Squaxin Island Tribe to identify indicators of well-being, increase cultural resilience, and affirm traditional knowledge through a community project.
Tsunami Road Show
Tsunami Road Show. Click to expand.
Carrie Garrison-Laney (WSG) discusses tsunami science and preparedness in coastal Washington communities.
Pumpout Washington
Pumpout Washington. Click to expand.
In partnership with the Washington State Parks Department, WSG helps boaters pump out their vessels cleanly and easily through the Pumpout Washington program, providing the tools and information they need to be good water stewards.
First Aid Training for Commercial Fishermen
First Aid Training for Commercial Fishermen. Click to expand.
WSG ensures preparedness at sea by offering multiple first-aid trainings throughout the year.
SoundToxins
SoundToxins. Click to expand.
SoundToxins is a joint monitoring program between shellfish growers, environmental learning centers, native tribes, and Puget Sound volunteers managed by WSG and designed to provide early warning of harmful algal bloom events.
NOAA Science Camp
NOAA Science Camp. Click to expand.
WSG partners worked with NOAA to present a popular summer science camp for children and teens, allowing them to work with real scientists while exploring marine science and current technologies.
WSG Hershman Fellows Program
WSG Hershman Fellows Program. Click to expand.
Graduate students are paired with government offices and NGOs to craft marine policy that tackles the state's most pervasive challenges.
Washington Coastal Resilience Project
Washington Coastal Resilience Project. Click to expand.
WSG staff collaborates with partners to prepare for future sea level rise.
Coastal Erosion at North Cove Beach, WA
Coastal Erosion at North Cove Beach, WA. Click to expand.
Erosion in the community of North Cove, also known as Washaway Beach, resulted in $20.3 million lost in housing and property value. WSG works to reestablich natural processes and investigate long-term solutions with the community. We also educate and provide resources through the Coastal Hazards Resilience Network. You can find our share of lessons learned from hazards adaption projects across the coast here. In addition, you can read more about this erosion from the Willapa Erosion Control Alliance Now.
Seabird Bycatch
Seabird Bycatch. Click to expand.
WSG works to research and develop policy with partners to understand and reduce seabird bycatch in commercial fishing.
King Tides Project
King Tides Project. Click to expand.
The WSG King Tide Project monitors the extent of king tides around Washington's coastal areas. They also host public viewing parties so that residents can gain a better understanding of what rising sea levels might look like and what they might mean.
Elwha River Restoration
Elwha River Restoration. Click to expand.
The Elwha River is the site of one of the largest ecological restoration projects ever attempted, after the Elwha Dam was removed. The video shows the time lapse of the dam removal.
Tacoma Tideflats
Tacoma Tideflats. Click to expand.
WSG has worked with Tacoma to address the impacts of sea level rise on tideflats through the Washington Coastal Resilience Project.
Seattle Seawall
Seattle Seawall. Click to expand.
Located on the Seattle waterfront along Elliott Bay is the Seattle Seawall, an elegant example of applied research for real world problem solving. The seawall is the largest, habitat-friendly, urban seawall in the world, totaling 7,000 feet in length!
Fishermen's Terminal
Fishermen's Terminal. Click to expand.
The terminal has served working fishermen since early 1900 and today continues to provide mooring for more than 250 vessels that range in size from 30 to 250 feet.
Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar
Taylor Shellfish Oyster Bar. Click to expand.
Taylor Shellfish is run by the largest bivalve culturing company in Washington State, with a workforce of more than 400 employees.
Elliot's Oyster House
Elliot's Oyster House. Click to expand.
Elliott’s is the showcase venue for the Capital City Oyster, a type of oyster created by fifth generation shellfish farmer Tom Bloomfield.
The Walrus and the Carpenter Oyster Bar
The Walrus and the Carpenter Oyster Bar. Click to expand.
The restaurant, in partnership with Hama Hama Oyster Company and other local shellfish producers, serves the freshest, most sustainable oysters possible.
Field Trip Guides
Take self-guided field trips to a selection of places that make our work in Washington special and unique.
Seattle's Fishermen's Terminal.
Fisherman's Terminal - Tacoma
For over 35 years, WSG has maintained an outreach office at the terminal, serving the educational needs of fishermen through one-on-one contact and workshops on-site as well as off-site around Puget Sound and the Coast. Our self-guided field trip of the Seattle Fisherman's Terminal explores the heart of Seattle’s fishing industry.
Elwha Dam removal, 2011.
Elwha River Restoration - Olympic Peninsula
WSG funded and collaborated with scientists to study coastal changes after the historic removal of the Elwha River Dam. To visit the site of the largest dam removal in the world, and one of the largest ecological restoration projects ever attempted, follow our self-guided field trip of the Elwha River Restoration .
Researcher Kerry Accola assessing marine activity along the Seattle Seawall.
Seattle Seawall - Seattle
WSG-funded scientists collaborated with the City of Seattle to design, install and monitor the largest habitat-friendly, urban seawall in the world. Visit Seattle’s waterfront for a walking tour using our self-guided field trip of the Seattle Seawall . View our innovative solution to the persistent problem of habitat loss for salmon and other shoreline species in an urban setting.
View of Tacoma skyline from Commencement Bay.
Working Waterfronts and Tideflats - Tacoma
Tacoma partnered with WSG on the NOAA-funded “Washington Coastal Resilience Project” as a pilot community, testing methods to incorporate technical guidance for coastal hazards and climate change into community plans, with a focus on the Tacoma tideflats. To experience this work, walk along the waterfront with directions from the Tacoma Working Waterfront and Tideflats self-guided field trip.
Oysters on the half shell, farmed in Washington.
Farm to Table Aquaculture Experience - Seattle
WSG has partnered with local shellfish farmers to provide safe shellfish to award-winning Seattle restaurants. To get a taste of this work, the Farm to Table Aquaculture Experience Self-Guided Field Trip gives directions to three oyster bars, including background on their history with WSG.
Looking Back on 50 Years
Sea Star 50th Anniversary Story
The world has changed immensely since WSG's inception. Even with these changes, a few key tenets of Sea Grant’s mission remain: WSG strives to impact and is continuously influenced by the ecosystem, industry, policy, and perhaps most importantly, the community that it serves.
We asked four longtime current and former staff — Jeff Adams, Teri King, Bob Goodwin and Penny Dalton — to reflect on their time here and how their work has contributed to some of the key pieces of the organization’s mission. Read what they had to say in this story from our Sea Star newsletter.
A Challenging Year: WSG's Response to COVID-19
"This year has presented challenges that none of us have ever experienced before. The truth is that we are incredibly lucky. We have continued to show up for each other, with empathy. We have continued to grow as an organization and in our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. And we have continued to do the work that we love, serving Washington’s marine and coastal environments and communities."- W. Russell Callender, Washington Sea Grant Director
A glimpse at Washington Sea Grant's incredible staff
Learn more about our response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the WSG News Blog .
Looking Back: WSG Historical Photos
In honor of the 50th anniversary of Washington Sea Grant, we’re digging through our photo archive to share moments from our program’s history.
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Washington Sea Grant's 50th Anniversary Celebration
Washington Sea Grant celebrates 50 years of service in Washington State in 2021. Take a look back over 50 years in this commemorative video celebrating Washington Sea Grant’s contributions to our state and look forward to another 50 years ahead.
The People of WSG
"I'm a huge fan of all the fellowship programs! When you see good people, you find a place to integrate them in."- Penny Dalton Former Washington Sea Grant Director
Deputy Director Kate Litle, Marine Operations Specialist Sarah Fisken, Director W. Russell Callender, and Fellowship and Research Specialist Deborah Purce with the 2019 WSG Fellows
"Other agencies have been influenced by Washington Sea Grant's social science contribution, including the NOAA National Marine Sanctuary, NOAA Fisheries, and tribal resource managers."- Melissa Poe, Washington Sea Grant Social Scientist
"Efforts by Washington Sea Grant such as the Washington Coastal Resilience Project have led to a clear trajectory of sea level rise planning that will buy us long-term resilience."- Ian Miller, Washington Sea Grant Coastal Hazards Specialist
“Washington Sea Grant has improved how coastal communities and constituents connect with agencies and universities working in coastal hazards resilience fields.” - Carrie Garrison-Laney, Washington Sea Grant Coastal Hazards Specialist
Those Who Shaped Us: Memory Blog
We sat down with some of our longtime staff members and leadership team to learn about their experiences and successes during their time with Washington Sea Grant.
Jeff Adams, Marine Ecologist
A "naturalist at heart" who brings marine science to the community.
Read the full interview here !
Robert Goodwin, former Coastal Resources Specialist
Keeping Washington's recreational boating data in ship shape.
Read the full interview here !
Ed Melvin - Marine Fisheries Scientist
Looking back on a long career saving seabirds.
Robyn Ricks, Creative Director
WSG creative director Robyn Ricks has shaped how the outside world sees the program for over two decades.
Read the full interview here !
Success Stories
Research Through the Decades
Research is a cornerstone of WSG's mission to help people better understand and address the challenges facing our ocean and coasts. Check out these key research projects from our last 50 years
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Sustainable Aquaculture in Washington
Shellfish farmers in Washington. Photo by M. Barish
One of WSG's major research project areas is Shellfish and Aquaculture . Washington is the nation's lead producer of farmed clams, oysters, and geoducks, with an estimated annual harvest worth more than $107 million. Nowhere else in the country can you find the abundance and variety of shellfish that we enjoy.
Shellfish have been a subsistence and ceremonial food for Indigenous tribes of the Pacific Northwest for millennia and commercial shellfish farming has been active in Washington waters for more than 160 years. WSG works closely with NOAA, West Coast shellfish farmers, state agencies, and tribes to support sustainable Northwest aquaculture and wild fisheries.
The Aquaculture Timeline is part of the Washington Coast Shellfish Aquaculture Study project, which is an effort to improve the long-term sustainability of shellfish aquaculture in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor under changing environmental conditions. The timeline provides an overview of the history of shellfish aquaculture and its challenges, and shows the major events related to Washington shellfish aquaculture from 1850 to the present.
Sustainable Shellfish Aquaculture in Washington. Video courtesy of The Nature Conservancy in Washington
Community Outreach - Programs and Services
Waves during a King Tide at Rialto Beach
King Tides Program
The Washington King Tides program invites people to visit the shoreline during a king tide or high water event while taking precautions to be safe. Individuals take pictures of important waterfront locations in their community, which helps scientists, local planners and decision-makers understand how sea-level rise and storm surges affect our infrastructure and ecosystems.
Seaweed Farm in Washington State
Kelp Aquaculture
Interest in macroalgae aquaculture is growing. Kelp and other seaweeds can be grown for food, animal feed, organic fertilizer, biofuels and other sustainable products. In Washington State, kelp aquaculture grew out of ocean acidification (OA) research. Because macroalgae absorbs nutrients and carbon dioxide as it grows, co-cultivation of macroalgae alongside farmed marine species can help recycle waste, and may buffer vulnerable organisms from the corrosive effects of OA. Learn more about how Kelp can be Food!
'Patty the Poo' reminds boaters to pump out, not dump out
Pumpout Washington
Pumpout Washington is a public outreach program managed by WSG and is funded by the National Clean Vessel Act Grant Program. Discharging raw sewage in inland waters and within three miles of the coast is illegal, and it's bad for human health and the environment. Luckily, there are over 150 pumpout stations around Washington for recreational boaters, and many services are free and easy to use!
Homepage of the WA Coast Economist website
Washington Coast Economist
Established in 2017, the WA Coast Economist is a resource to anyone interested in the economy on Washington’s coast. The blog, managed by WSG's Economist Kevin Decker, allows those interested to keep up to date on what makes Washington's coast economy tick. It also provides information about events, funding opportunities, jobs, and other economically relevant content and updates.
Coastal Connections
Coastal Connections is a WSG Social Sciences Blog that aims to share some of the dynamic social science that is being done by WSG and our partners to understand and support Washington's diverse communities as they connect with coastal ecosystems.
Coastal Café Podcast
Find out what’s happening along the Washington shoreline and coast by listening to the Coastal Café podcast ! This WSG podcast, hosted by Aaron Barnett and MaryAnn Wagner, explores cutting-edge marine science and related topics with researchers, policy experts, and people who live and work on the Washington coast. Coastal Café airs every other Wednesday at 5:30pm, and is a joint production of Washington Sea Grant at the College of the Environment, University of Washington and KPTZ 91.9 FM.
Tsunami Hazard Zone Sign
Tsunami Hazards
All marine shorelines in Washington State are vulnerable to tsunamis. The Pacific Coast, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Puget Sound all have geologic evidence for past tsunamis, and future tsunamis are inevitable. This fact sheet contains information for Washington State residents and visitors, including how tsunamis form, the different sources of tsunamis that affect Washington coastlines and what you should do in the event of a tsunami.
Looking Forward
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Washington Sea Grant (WSG) has made a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) an integral part of our culture. A commitment to DEI infuses our identity and our approach to our programming and is part of the daily fabric of who we are as an organization. We have developed a DEI values statement that demonstrates WSG is not only working to incorporate DEI principles internally, but are also consciously working to bring DEI concepts to the larger Washington community. We have also developed a roadmap to guide our DEI commitments and actions for the next ten years. Read the DEI Roadmap here .
The spring 2020 issue of Sea Star , our print newsletter, featured stories that we hope will give you a sense of how we weave these concepts into all that we do—from expanding fellowship opportunities to historically underrepresented groups to helping ensure the safety of passengers with disabilities on a small cruise ship. Our story on engineered log jams includes a partnership with a local tribal nation, highlighting critical best practices for working with Indigenous communities, which is one of our core DEI strategies. To learn more about our plan to incorporate DEI in our work, click here .
