Our Octopus Award recognizes groups or individuals who go above and beyond to help the SeaDoc Society accomplish its mission to ensure the health of marine wildlife and their ecosystem.
Martha Kongsgaard and Stephanie Solien, 2023
Martha Kongsgaard served for nearly ten years as a founding member of the Puget Sound Partnership’s Leadership Council. She worked alongside legendary advocates for the Salish Sea, including Billy Frank, Jr. and Bill Ruckelshaus, to move ecosystem resiliency forward in collaboration with tribes, state agencies, and federal partners. Further, Kongsgaard honored and highlighted the work of nonprofit organizations—including the SeaDoc Society—and, in her words, “without whom in large part government would not find the support (or the urging) to do what is right and often difficult.” Kongsgaard has served on the boards of the Bullitt Foundation, Resources Legacy Fund, Washington Conservation Action (formerly Washington Environmental Council), and currently chairs the Marine Resources Advisory Council for Governor Inslee. Kongsgaard’s leadership has helped establish the ongoing and critical role for the work of science organizations like SeaDoc, and affirmed the importance of science translation as a necessary component of the conservation movement for the wildlife and people that depend on the health of the Salish Sea.
For almost 8 years, Stephanie Solien served as a member, then the Vice Chair of the Puget Sound Partnership’s Leadership Council and brought to the role incomparable knowledge of the diversity of efforts to protect the Salish Sea. Solien’s extensive experience in government and nonprofits, including her pivotal role in the creation of the 1993 Pacific NW Forest Summit and the Federal NW Forest Plan during her service in the Clinton Administration, exemplifies her dedication to safeguarding the environment for future generations. Her involvement on the boards of Farming and the Environment, Washington Conservation Action, and Climate Solutions—along with her philanthropic support for conservation organizations—make Solien an inspiring advocate for effective and collaborative efforts to protect this place we love. Furthermore, as co-chair for Governor Inslee’s Southern Resident Orca Taskforce from 2018 to 2019, Solien championed the use of science informed policy for recovery of one of the Salish Sea’s most endangered yet most iconic species, southern resident killer whales.
Martha Kongsgaard and Stephanie Solien also both serve on the advisory board for Western Washington University’s Salish Sea Institute, which spearheaded the 2021 State of the Salish Sea Report and organized the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference biannually since 2014.
Chris Dunnigan, 2015
Chris Dunagan has been incredibly effective at inspiring people to care about our marine environment and the wildlife that depends on it. Since starting as a reporter with the Kitsap Sun in 1977, he has written close to 10,000 stories about the Salish Sea. That's millions of words grounded in strong science to help people understand how the Salish Sea works, and what we need to do for recovery. Although he's retired from his staff writer position at the Kitsap Sun, Chris is still writing. You can see his work at his blog, Watching our Waterways, or follow him on Twitter.
Bennie Osburn, 2011
Left to right: Kirsten Gilardi, Jonna Mazet, Gary Davis, Bennie Osburn, Joe Gaydos, Walter Boyce.
Dr. Osburn, former Dean of the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, was instrumental in setting up the SeaDoc Society in the early 2000s. In 2000, private donors who were impressed with the vet school's track record for producing science that improved wildlife health approached asked the school to consider working in Washington and British Columbia on problems facing the marine fish and wildlife of the Salish Sea. Dean Osburn recognized the fit between Wildlife Health Center's expertise and the needs of the Salish Sea and helped create the SeaDoc Society.
Compass Wines (Doug Charles & Will Parks), 2010
Left to right: Doug Charles, Eleanor Parks, Will Parks.
Over the last two years, Compass Wines has been instrumental in helping SeaDoc fund science needed to improve the health of local marine wildlife populations. In addition to being corporate sponsors for SeaDoc’s major Wine Fundraising Auction, Compass Wines also donates a portion of the proceeds from sales of their “Salish Sea” wine to benefit the SeaDoc Society.
Compass Wines’ support has helped SeaDoc carry out a number of scientific studies ranging from determining best practices for restoring endangered northern abalone, to investigating the origins of contaminants in killer whales. Compass Wines has truly been like four extra pairs of arms for the SeaDoc Society over the last few years.