As a playful prescription for troubled times, Dr. Joe “Fish Geek” Gaydos and Bob “Attenborough” Friel present a lighthearted take on SeaDoc’s citizen science partnership with the Reef Educational Foundation in our latest episode: The Natural History of the Fish Geek.
Are marine mammal stranding hotspots a real thing?
Scientists learn a lot about marine mammal health from stranded animals. Afterall, marine mammals don’t spend much time above water, so they’re pretty hard to study. Studying stranded animals teaches us about diseases that are important for marine mammal health and human health. But finding stranded animals is challenging, because everything from tides and currents to coastal conditions can determine where a dead animal might end up on shore. And are there really such things as stranding hotspots?
Saving the Pinto Abalone, One Bottle of Sea Water at a Time
Pinto abalone populations in the Salish Sea have been decimated after years of poaching and over-harvest, falling by 98 percent in recent decades. There are not enough remaining in the wild for them to reproduce naturally because they are “broadcast spawners,” meaning if one releases sperm, a female needs to release her eggs close enough to be fertilized.
When abalone are not close enough to other reproductively active abalone there can be no reproduction, making them functionally extinct in the wild.
SeaDoc Awards Salish Sea Science Prize to Crab Team For Early Detection and Prevention of Invasive European Green Crab
The European green crab is a damaging invasive species that has wreaked havoc on ecosystems around the world, and recently they’ve found their way into the Salish Sea. Thanks to Washington Sea Grant’s Crab Team, major scientifically based efforts are being made to stop its spread before it starts. For this use of science to improve the health of the Salish Sea, this Earth Day they have been announced as winners of the SeaDoc Society’s 2020 Salish Sea Science Prize, which comes with a $2,000 no-strings-attached cash award.
When introduced into ecosystems outside of its native range, the green crab’s impact has been both ecological and economic. Not only do they disturb native habitat, displace resident species and alter natural food webs, but they have decimated shellfish industries upon which livelihoods depend. Amid the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Crab Team’s work is a reminder that intervention is most effective before the impacts of an invasion even become visible.
Salish Sea Wild: Shaking Hands With the World’s Biggest Octopus
Different Killer Whales, Different Teeth (Interactive)
Three different types of killer whales can be found in the Salish Sea. They don’t mix, even though they look similar to humans and live in the same place. They are genetically distinct, and they don’t breed with one another. They have different calls, different behavioral patterns, and they eat different prey.
2020 Wine & Sea Auction Cancelled
As many of you may have already guessed, we have canceled the 2020 SeaDoc Society Wine & Sea Auction due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. This event was originally planned for July 11th on Orcas Island. This annual fundraiser is one of our favorite days of the year because it allows us to gather with you, our supporters, and celebrate our shared accomplishments and make investments in future ones. At this time, however, our collective health is most important, and we look forward to the time when we can come together again.
Man Fined $5,625 For Shooting Harbor Seal; SeaDoc Played Role in Surgery and Recovery
Where Are You Finding Hope in These Times?
Last week our Science Director, Joe Gaydos, shared a message of compassion and hope during this time of social distancing and COVID-19. It can be difficult to think about anything right now besides the pandemic that has is staying in place. In Joe’s message, he suggested the ocean as a place to send your mind in search of natural beauty and inspiration.
We want to know: What are you thinking about to maintain hope during these times? What are you doing each day that might inspire others? Submit your thoughts below and we’ll compile them in our next newsletter. Stay safe!
A Message of Compassion and Hope from SeaDoc
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the stress related to the fear and anxiety surrounding the health, social, and economic implications of this pandemic, is real. One thing they suggest to combat this is to spend time focusing on something positive. We recommend the ocean.
Salish Sea Wild: The Tufted Puffins of Destruction Island
On a risky mission to remote, rugged Destruction Island, Team SeaDoc tries to solve the mysteries of the Tufted Puffin in the hopes of saving this charismatic seabird from local extinction.
We are releasing this special cut of the episode as the spreading pandemic keeps us all in our homes. We hope you enjoy. Stay safe and stay healthy.
We’re Part of the Top Veterinary School in the World
We’re thrilled to share that once again the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine has been named the top veterinary school in the world!
While SeaDoc Society is a self-sustaining program on Orcas Island whose scientific and educational work is focused entirely on improving the health of the Salish Sea, we are proud to be a program of the Karen C. Drayer Wildlife Health Center, a center of excellence at UC Davis’ incredible veterinary school. This week’s #1 ranking comes from the highly reputable Quacquarelli Symonds, but Davis is also number one with U.S. News and World Reports and several other world rankings. It’s the best of the best, and we’re lucky to have such brilliant people on our side.
SeaDoc Board Member Publishes Beautiful New Book: Pacific Flyway
SeaDoc Board Member Audrey Benedict and her team spoke about their new book on the Pacific Flyway to a packed house last night at Seattle’s Town Hall this week! Weaving powerful images with a science narrative, this book portrays the amazing lives of migratory birds along the America’s Pacific Flyway. It’s also an urgent call for conservation and stewardship. You can read more at www.sasquatchbooks.com.
About the book:
The migratory waterbirds of the Pacific Flyway convert food, air, and water into a mileage plan that has few equals in the animal world. Set against a backdrop of stunning images from more than 120 internationally acclaimed photographers, this book shares the amazing stories of these migrants--a cast of characters that includes shorebirds, seabirds, and waterfowl.
Stretching from the Arctic regions of northeastern Russia, Alaska, and western Canada and along the Pacific coastlines of North, Central, and South America, the Pacific Flyway traverses some of our planet's greatest climatic and topographic extremes. Defined by water, the flyway encompasses a sweeping expanse of coastal and offshore marine ecosystems and an inland archipelago of freshwater wetlands. Hemispheric in scope, this integrated network of ecosystems is linked by its moving parts--the millions of migratory birds whose lives depend on this 10,000-mile (16,000-km) corridor as they travel between their breeding and overwintering grounds. With their ocean- and continent-spanning travels, waterbirds are our sentinels in a changing world--each of their journeys revealing the fraying edges of the web of life that sustains us all. Pacific Flyway perfectly blends amazing photography, science writing, and storytelling to illuminate the profound challenges faced by migratory birds and to inspire a longterm commitment to global conservation efforts.
Salish Sea Wild: Salish Sea After Dark
While you were tucking comfortably into your bed on a recent winter night, Team SeaDoc was gearing up to take our research vessel out for a late night dive under the stars. A whole world awaited us on the dark sea floor, and to our delight it was teeming with life. Let us light your way as we explore the Salish Sea after dark!
Killer Whale Health Database Gets Another Round of Support from Microsoft Azure
We’re thrilled to announce that Microsoft Azure has once again extended their support of our ongoing creation of the Killer Whale Health Database through their AI For Earth program. The database, which aims to house a wealth of valuable health data, is currently being developed by The SeaDoc Society and the National Marine Mammal Foundation.
The AI For Earth grant, which was initially awarded to SeaDoc in 2018, offers Microsoft Azure’s cloud-computing platform and assistance with artificial intelligence computing tools for comprehensive data analysis.
Join us for Pacific Flyway Events in Seattle February 19 and 20
There will be two amazing events featuring acclaimed author and SeaDoc Board Member Audrey Benedict, who co-authored two #SalishSea books with our Science Director, Joe Gaydos, in Seattle in mid February! The book is beautiful and the event will be great, so don’t miss out. Reserve a seat soon, because the events are filling up.
Salish Sea Wild: Finding Your Inner Mermaid
In this episode, Joe meets a local mermaid who teaches him about the wonders of freediving in the Salish Sea. Not only does it involve far less gear than scuba diving, but it lets you become one with the environment! Without the heavy tanks and endless bubbles, people are not so much alien visitors as we are fellow marine mammals. All you need is a mask and a wetsuit to get in on the action!
Salish Sea Wild: Awesome Fishes of the Intertidal
Join scientist and Finding Nemo’s “Fabulous Fish Guy” Adam Summers as he leads Team SeaDoc on a mission to find some of the Salish Sea’s most amazing intertidal creatures.
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Calling for 2020 Salish Sea Science Prize Nominations
Biennially, the SeaDoc Society awards the Salish Sea Science Prize to a prominent scientist or team of scientists whose work has resulted in the marked improvement of management or policy related to the conservation of marine wildlife and the Salish Sea marine ecosystem. Non-scientists who have used science in a substantial way to improve management or policy related to healing the Salish Sea also will be considered. This is the only award of its kind. The recipient(s) does not need to be a resident of Washington or British Columbia as long as their scientific efforts or use of science have led to measurable impacts on the Salish Sea ecosystem. The $2,000 prize comes with no strings attached and is designed to highlight the importance of science in providing a foundation for designing a healthy Salish Sea ecosystem. This award is given in recognition of and to honor Stephanie Wagner, who loved the region and its wildlife.
Help Our Lost Killer Whale Find the Salish Sea (VIDEO)
Only 5% of Washingtonians and 14% of British Columbians know what the Salish Sea is. So we did what any good scientific organization would do and hit the streets of Seattle while wearing a killer whale costume to see if they know the name of the sea right in their backyard. Could they help our orca find the Salish Sea?