Justin Cox
A Non-Invasive Tool For Collecting Killer Whale ...

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. 

A Non-Invasive Tool For Collecting Killer Whale Breath Samples
Justin Cox
Meet SeaDoc's Newest Science Advisors, Caitlin ...

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! 

Justin Cox
SeaDoc Announces More than $200,000 in New ...

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:

SeaDoc Announces More than $200,000 in New Funded Research
Justin Cox
Joe Gaydos Elected to Washington State Academy ...

The Washington State Academy of Sciences has elected 36 new members in recognition of their outstanding record of scientific and technical achievement. Among the select group in this year’s slate is SeaDoc Society Science Director Joe Gaydos!

Joe Gaydos Elected to Washington State Academy of Sciences
Justin Cox
The Ocean is Our Lab

The Molly B skims the water as divers prepare for a day of field work in the Salish Sea. SeaDoc Society’s research assistant Cat Lo gets ready to don her heavy dive gear and take a plunge. One by one, the divers back roll off the boat and splash into the water with their slates and survey equipment. They descend and begin their objective; to survey young-of-year rockfish. 

Cat’s job entails a lot of time spent on or under the water, whether she’s surveying baby rockfish, assisting with killer whale health assessments, or the many other projects SeaDoc has in motion. Time spent in the field comes with its highs, its challenges, and its unexpected outcomes. While all components of science are important, much of the work we do puts us out in the field, interacting with the ecosystem first hand. 

As marine scientists, the ocean is our laboratory. 

The Ocean is Our Lab

vancouver aquairum

Freeing Entangled Sea Lions from Discarded Human Trash

By Justin Cox

Surveys in British Columbia have documented hundreds of sea lions entangled by discarded human trash and derelict fishing gear, according to the Vancouver Aquarium. Similar numbers are estimated along the West Coast of the United States.

Wildlife Veterinarian and SeaDoc Director Dr. Joe Gaydos has been working with Dr. Marty Haulena, lead veterinarian at the Vancouver Aquarium, Kristin Wilkinson and others at NOAA Fisheries, and a team including other veterinarians, wildlife officials and biologists to bring this tool to Washington and Oregon.

On a recent trip to Bodeltah Islands off the coast of Washington, the team disentangled two affected sea lions, the first animals to be disentangled in Washington. After viewing multiple entangled animals, the team was able to identify several good candidates, sedate them, remove the packing straps that had entangled them, and then reverse the anesthetic and recover them safely.

“We’re excited to be bringing this safe, but technically challenging technique into Washington,” said Gaydos.” Disentanglement not only improves the welfare of the animals we help, but also enables us to collect data needed to identify the main items entangling sea lions so we can help manufacturers alter their production and stop the entanglement cycle.”

This work was done under the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program Permit #18786. Read more about the team’s work and check out more cool photos on the Aquarium’s Aquablog. 

 
 

Banner photo: wildlife veterinarians Lesanna Lahner (Emerald Waters), Joe Gaydos (SeaDoc Society), and Martin Haulena (Vancouver Aquarium) work to disentangle an immobilized California sea lion (NMFS Permit #18786).