San Juan Islands Marine Monitoring Network
Click on the map to go to the corresponding page.
With over a hundred islands and 400 miles of shoreline, the San Juan Archipelago is profoundly tied to its marine environment. In spring and summer large aggregations of “forage fish” (sand lance, smelt, herring), shrimp and crabs attract juvenile Pacific salmon, Orcas (Killer whales),Minke whales, and seabirds from throughout the Salish Sea. New roads and homes are mainly along the shoreline, however, and recreational boating and fishing are increasing rapidly. Eelgrass meadows appear to be shrinking, and rockfish have declined sharply. In collaboration with WSU Beach Watchers and public land managers, Kwiaht has developed five community-based volunteer teams on four of the San Juan Islands to conduct long-term monitoring and status assessment of nearshore food webs. Two monitoring sites are relatively undisturbed and three are located in Urban Growth Areas. Each team conducted baseline surveys and chose its own set of indicators and data collection methods. Teams continue to recruit and train new members, and expand their research agendas, while sharing data and maintaining a commitment to scientific integrity.
Visit the project websites:
Fisherman Bay Marine Health Observatory - Lopez Island
Friday Harbor Marine Health Observatory - San Juan Island
Indian Island Marine Health Observatory – Orcas Island
Iceberg Point Project - Lopez Island