Apr 4, 2016

To be sustainable, conservation needs to consider the human factor

The Salmon Dancer Canoe Family paddles along the shorelines of Swinomish

How decisions affect people’s lives, and how human culture, values, and equity affect conservation outcomes should be considered when defining sustainability goals and approaches to environmental management.

NOAA funds Washington Sea Grant to help communities protect their coasts

Whidbey’s Island County, seen here in a 2006 photo, is an initial partner on the project.

Washington SeaGrant was recently awarded nearly $900,000 by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to help coastal communities protect against hazards, including tsunamis, winter storms and sea-level rise. The three-year project will help prepare Washington’s roughly 3,100 miles of coastline and more than 45 coastal cities for current and future hazards. The award is one of six NOAA Regional Coastal Resilience Grants awarded this year.

Congrats to Garfield High School, winners of the 2016 Orca Bowl!

Each year at Orca Bowl, high school students from across Washington convene for a little friendly competition to test each others’ knowledge of the world’s oceans. Over the weekend, a team from Seattle’s Garfield High School went toe-to-toe with Newport High School and, in the end, took top honors. They’re now eligible to participate in the National Ocean Sciences Bowl finals held in April, where teams representing 25 regions across the country will meet.

Jeffrey Cordell honored by the Seattle Aquarium

Every year, the Seattle Aquarium recognizes outstanding individuals who work and make a difference in the marine environment. This year, UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences research scientist Jeffrey Cordell was honored for his innovative work on restoring marine habitat along Seattle’s Elliott Bay seawall. Jeff led the long-term research, funded by the City of Seattle and Washington Sea Grant, to design, install, and monitor large-scale test panels at three locations along the Seattle waterfront as part of the Elliott Bay Seawall Project.

Cousteau’s ‘Acid Apocalypse’ to Feature Washington Youth in Ocean Acidification Project

University Prep student Jacob Richey fills a sample bottle during a summer training session.

EarthEcho International, Philippe Cousteau, Jr.’s environmental education and youth leadership nonprofit, has launched an expedition—called “Acid Apocalypse”—around Washington state to explore the growing threat of ocean acidification and meet with students and scientists to learn how the issue affects their lives. The organization, founded by the grandchildren of legendary explorer Jacques Cousteau, is hosting Google Hangouts while in the field and will produce documentary-style videos, lesson plans, and other resources about ocean acidification for teachers and students.