Beachwalkers Wanted For COASST

Photo: S. Oliveira/COASST

Photo: B. Blackie/COASST

The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) will deliver two free training sessions: one focused on beached birds and one focused on marine debris. The Beached Bird training will be held in Eastsound, WA on Saturday, January 28 and the Marine Debris training will be held in Friday Harbor, WA on Sunday, January 29.

COASST is a citizen science project of the University of Washington in partnership with state, tribal, and federal agencies, environmental organizations, and community groups. COASST believes citizens of coastal communities are essential scientific partners in monitoring marine ecosystem health. By collaborating with citizens, natural resource management agencies and environmental organizations, COASST works to translate long-term monitoring into effective marine conservation solutions. Currently, more than 800 participants survey beaches in Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska.

COASST participants help make a difference for the environment by collecting data on beach-cast carcasses of marine birds or on the characteristics of marine debris to help address important marine conservation issues and protect marine resources. In the COASST Beached Bird program, participants collect data on beach-cast seabirds to establish the baseline pattern of beached bird mortality on North Pacific beaches. In the COASST Marine Debris program, participants characterize and measure the abundance of marine debris to increase our understanding of the source and transport pathways of debris, as well as to the potential harm to people, wildlife, and local coastal ecosystems.

The Beached Bird training session in Eastsound will be held at the Orcas Island Library (500 Rose Street, Eastsound, WA 98245) from 10:00 am – 4:00 PM on Saturday, January 28. The Marine Debris training session in Friday Harbor will be held at the Friday Harbor Laboratories – Commons (620 University Road, Friday Harbor, WA 98261).

There will be a short break in the middle of the session for lunch, so please bring your own sack lunch, or money to purchase food in the area. Volunteers need NO prior experience with scientific data collection, just a commitment to survey a specific beach at least once a month. Training activities take place indoors.

Reserve your spot by calling COASST at 206-221-6893 or by emailing [email protected]. For more information on COASST: University of Washington, School of Aquatic & Fishery Sciences, Box 355020, Seattle, WA 98195-5020; Phone: 206-221-6893; Website: www.coasst.org.

You can support the San Juan Update by doing business with our loyal advertisers, and by making a one-time contribution or a recurring donation.