The SeaDoc Board is instrumental to our mission here in the Salish Sea. Scott, Barb, and Jeff bring unique expertise, passion, and dedication to our team and we’re so excited to have them! View the whole board here and learn more about Scott, Barb and Jeff below.
Drones can be powerful tools in gathering important health data about wildlife, including marine species like the Salish Sea’s endangered killer whales. Scientists have already established the benefits of collecting breath samples to monitor orca health, but we wanted to scientifically understand if it is less invasive than previous sampling methods–namely the use of a long pole with a petri dish extended from a nearby boat toward the whale’s blowhole.
A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal, Marine Mammal Science, led by SeaDoc Society Research Assistant Catherine Lo, answered that question by analyzing more than 1,000 drone-collected killer whale breath samples.
This summer, our brilliant Scientific Advisory Committee gathered in Seattle to assess and ultimately determine funding for five new critical research projects here in the Salish Sea. You can read about those here.
Our Science Advisors are a vital part of our mission, and we’re excited to introduce two exciting new additions. They are Caitlin Magel of Puget Sound Institute and Phil Bloch of Confluence Environmental Company. We asked them a few questions so you can get to know them a bit better.
Welcome Caitlin and Phil!
We're excited to announce that SeaDoc Society will fund five new scientific research projects aimed at improving the longterm health of the Salish Sea. Each project was carefully reviewed and selected by our Scientific Advisory Committee and funded through your donations from people like you.
We look forward to sharing more about each of these as fieldwork ramps up, but here is a brief look at the newly funded projects:
I’ve lived in the Pacific Northwest my entire life—currently residing in Seattle. I’m a local artist specializing in scientific illustration of marine organisms. I’m a divemaster and free-diver, and spend as much time as possible underwater. I love combining my art with my love for the sea, using paint as a tool to celebrate the natural world.
By Joe Thoron
Talk about mixed feelings! After almost a decade of hanging around the SeaDoc offices, first as a consultant and then as an employee, I'm moving on to a job opportunity too interesting to pass up (a startup still in stealth mode).
I first met Joe Gaydos because our daughters were in preschool together. When he told me about SeaDoc, and that it was trying to save marine wildlife and the marine environment not only by doing great science but also by making sure the results got into the hands of decision-makers, I was hooked.
It wasn't long before I was helping Joe write a piece about SeaDoc's traveling harbor seal skeleton. Then I was fixing up the website. Then helping to write and send the newsletter. The more work I did with Joe, Jean, and SeaDoc's amazing board members and supporters, the more I loved it. So it was a natural step to join the staff about 5 years ago.
As I roll out of here, I want to give a big shout out of appreciation to everyone here in the office and at UC Davis. And I especially want to say thanks to all of the great donors and supporters I've had a the privilege to get to know over the past decade. SeaDoc attracts some of the warmest and most generous & thoughtful people I've ever met. It's been a great adventure!
