Research Projects

The School of Marine Affairs at the University of Washington is a recognized leader in research on marine science and policy. SMA faculty, professional staff and graduate students are engaged in collaborative multi-year research, outreach and training projects. These research activities often reach across disciplines and involve combined efforts of many University of Washington faculty, as well as regional, national and international research teams. As a result of the strengths of the UW as a research institution, the School is able to connect easily campus-wide with colleagues and research experts in a dynamic, stimulating research environment.

In recent years the primary focus of research has been in the areas of interdisciplinary regional assessments and environmental quality; coastal and ocean management; living resources management; education; and ecological and scientific studies. The research agenda for the School includes a continuing commitment to study and resolve policy and management issues related to the marine environment.

The funded research projects described in the following pages are indicative of the kind of vigorous, interdisciplinary research and outreach activities being undertaken at SMA. The sources of funding for these projects are summarized in Figure 1.

Figure 1. Sources of Funding for SMA Research Projects

Interdisciplinary Regional Assessments and Environmental Quality

An Integrated Assessment of the Impacts of Climate Variability and Climate Change on the U. S. Pacific Northwest. Climate Impacts Group (CIG): An integrated assessment of the dynamics of climate variability and change, associated impacts and policy response strategies for natural resources of the Pacific Northwest (with JISAO). The CIG was created in 1995 as a result of a research contract from NOAA's Office of Global Programs. Please check out CIG's website. Ed Miles (PI), and faculty from other UW departments. Sponsor: NOAA $7,243,100. Duration: 1995-2004.
Columbia River Initiative Economic Analysis: Draw conclusions and implications regarding the issues associated with the Columbia River Initiative (CRI). Dan Huppert. Sponsor: Washington State Department of Ecology. Amount: $113,132. Duration: July 2003 - December 2003.
Impacts of Population and Markets on Sustainability of the Ocean and Coastal Resources: Perspectives of Developing and Transition Economies of the North Pacific: Peer Reviewed Book and International Multi-disciplinary Training. Vlad Kaczynski. Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF). Amount: $62,957. Duration: Apr. 30, 2000 - Sept. 30, 2003.
Effects of Population Growth and Consumption Patterns on Marine Fisheries in the Zhoushan Archipelago, PRC: Vlad Kaczynski with University of Peking (Beijing, PRC) and Ningbo University (Ningbo, PRC). Sponsor: MacArthur Foundation Amount: $213,000. Duration: 2000 - June 2003.
International Workshop for Strategies and Technologies for Sustainable Coastal Development: Comparison between Incheon and Seattle Areas: David L. Fluharty. Sponsor: NSF (National Science Foundation). Amount: $42,137. Duration: Mar. 1, 2003 - Feb. 29, 2004.
Pacific Northwest Coastal Ecosystem Regional Study (PNCERS): Natural and Anthropogenic Variability in Northwestern Pacific Coastal Systems: An integrated approach to understanding physical and human processes that affect system health, resource variability and management responses (with UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences). Please visit their website at http://www.PNCERS.org/. Dan Huppert and Tom Leschine (Co PI's). Sponsor: NOAA via Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development. Amount: $586,363. Duration: 1997-2003.
Restoration of Salmon Habitat in the Cedar River Watershed: A study of the integration of salmon habitat restoration and flood hazard reduction using societal/biophysical indicators (with UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences). Tom Leschine, Dave Fluharty and Bob Wissmar (Co -PI's). Sponsor: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Amount: $749,991. Duration: 1997-2004.

Coastal and Ocean Management

Deer Harbor Bridge/Restoration Design

Survey the Deer Harbor Estuary for existing patches of Zostera marina (eelgrass);
Using grid sampling design, collect data quarterly to describe the relationship between eelgrass cover and submarine PAR;
Using these data, target restoration sites within the Deer Harbor Estuary;
Contribute to discussions relative to the conceptual design for the bridge replacement and
Provide information and sampling opportunities for the citizens of Deer Harbor Estuary.

Marc Hershman (PI) and Sandy Wyllie-Echeverria. Sponsor: Conservation Districts of San Juan, Skagit, Whatcom and Whidbey Island. Amount: $14,432.

Glacier Bay Charter Fishery Creel Survey and Recreational Angler Catch Card Survey

The purpose of the project is to design and carry out a creel survey of the charter vessel in Elfin Cove and Gustavus, Alaska. Estimates will be independently checked, e.g. by the use of captains' log books whenever possible. An on-site catch card-type fishing survey instrument will be developed to monitor both marine and freshwater recreational fishing activities. The survey techniques are to be developed in 2002 and tested in 2002-2003. Marc L. Miller and Vince Gallucci. Sponsor: National Park Service. Amount: $131,132.

Project on Ocean Governance

Research to support the US Commission on Ocean Policy. Public seminar series for UW students and faculty. Local arrangements for the Pacific Northwest meeting of the Commission. Document management and bibliographic support for the Commissioners from the Pacific NW. Support from the US Commission, various local donors, the Bullitt Foundation and the SMA Hewlett Endowment. Amount: $40,000. Duration: 2002 - 2004. Students supported (3).

Integrated Coastal Management Sustainability Research Project

Considerable interest surrounds integrated coastal management (ICM) in developing countries. Within the developing world, ICM is perhaps most advanced in Southeast Asia. ICM focuses on encouraging sustainable coastal resource use through an interactive process of regulation and policy development institutional coordination, and education. This project proposes to study, in a multidisciplinary manner, the sustainability of ICM activities in the Philippines and Indonesia after formal project termination. It also proposes to assist current ICM projects underway in these countries and to contribute to the improvement of human capabilities within the involved institutions. This effort has considerable potential for assisting with the design of more sustainable ICM efforts. Patrick Christie. Sponsor: The David and Lucile Packard Foundation. Amount: $643,491. Duration: Jan. 1, 2001 - Dec 31, 2003.

Protocol for Citizen-Based Epibenthic Sampling

Scope of work includes the following: 1) design a pilot study to determine the relationship between leaf-dwelling invertebrates and landscape patterns within a Zostera marina (eelgrass) meadow in the San Juan Islands, 2) analyze the results of a survey using the techniques of underwater video and hydro-acoustics to map eelgrass in San Juan County, 3) discuss research results and eelgrass conservation issues with residents of San Juan County in a "town meeting" format on each island within the County. Marc Hershman (PI) and Sandy Wyllie-Echeverria. Sponsor: Friends of the San Juans. The funding source for this project is the Salmon Recovery Board, a Washington State interagency group. Amount: $37,469.

Living Resources Management

Bioeconomic Models to Assess Harvest Strategies in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery

This project undertakes the development of stochastic models to examine tradeoffs between average harvest level and annual variability from both economic and biological viewpoints in the Pacific coast groundfish fishery. Dan Huppert. Sponsor: NOAA. Amount: $31,000.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance Project

Examines the history, rationale and future of NEPA and related regulatory compliance issues by NOAA Fisheries in the management of living marine resources of the North Pacific. Special attention is given to the law-science interface. The project includes research, teaching and student supervision. Marc Hershman (PI) and Beth Bryant. Sponsor: NOAA Fisheries. Amount: $376,981. Duration: 2002 - 2005.

NEPA EIS Research and Writing

Student research assistants work with staff of the NOAA Fisheries North Pacific regional office and the Alaska Fisheries Science Center to provide research and writing support in meeting new regulatory and analytical requirements. Two students supported. Marc Hershman (PI) and Beth Bryant. Sponsor: North Pacific Fisheries Management Council. Amount: $100,000. Duration: 2003 - 2004.

Study of Supply Effects on Sablefish Market Price

In the Study of Supply Effects on Sablefish Market Price the project will investigate the likely impact of two sources of supply increase:

a 40% rise in sablefish harvest, potentially resulting from harvest quota increases in response to above-average recruitments, and
growth of the sablefish farming sector in Canada and perhaps overseas.

The predominant market for sablefish is for frozen fish exported to Japan, and the main focus of the research will be the likely extent of price decline in that market. In addition, widespread expansion of sablefish culture could lead to a widening of the sablefish market to North American and elsewhere. Dan Huppert. Sponsor: Eat on the Wild Side (formerly Fishing Vessel Owners' Association). Amount: $34,727.

Education

Establishing Marine Affairs and Outreach Program at the University of Port Elizabeth: This partnership between the School of Marine Affairs and the University of Port Elizabeth (UPE) in South Africa will promote development of the coastal economy and better use and conservation of coastal resources. There are changes taking place in the Republic of South Africa, in particular the growing pressures of swelling coastal poor populations migrating from hinterland in search for food, housing, jobs and better lives in the post-apartheid era. The Program will prepare South Africans to work in such disciplines as marine policy, fishery resource management, environmental protection, marine and coastal tourism, aquaculture, ports and marine transportation and marine advisory services specializations. Through the innovative Marine Outreach Program and incubation of small and micro-enterprises the Project will help create jobs for the coastal poor. The Project will open new research opportunities for SMA students and faculty. The idea of the Marine Affairs Program in South Africa came from SMA and it will lead the Project. However UW's Office of Educational Partnership, the Graduate School and other departments such as Fisheries, Business, the Program on Africa and the Program on the Environment (PoE) will be invited to collaborate. An additional product of the Project is better access to higher education for under-served groups in South Africa. Vlad Kaczynski (PI), Marc Miller and Patrick Christie. Sponsors: Association Liaison Office (ALO) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Amount: $125,000. Duration: Jan. 1, 2003 - Dec. 31, 2004.
History of PICES (North Pacific Marine Science Organization): Preparation of a PICES history based on records deposited in the UW archives and on interviews with Professor Wooster, first chairman of PICES and other notable individuals concerned with development of the organization from 1978 to its establishment in 1992. Please check out the PICES' website: http://www.pices.int. Warren Wooster (PI) and Sara Tjossem, UW Lecturer, History Department. Sponsor: NSF via the University of Alaska. Amount: $81,975. Duration: 2001-2003.
Integrated Coastal Management Sustainability Education Project: This project is designed to help insure that future practitioners of coastal management are well prepared to address the lack of sustainability of environmental management processes in South-East Asia. In order to meet this goal, the results from an ongoing research project which focuses on process sustainability will be translated into educational materials, embedded into an ongoing distance learning program and disseminated to the public over the Internet. Patrick Christie. Sponsor: National Science Foundation (NSF). Amount: $50,000.

Ecological and Scientific Studies

Biological Modeling Collaboration: The focus of the research project, which will help support an incoming SMA student, is to generate input parameters for a model that will be used to predict impacts of oil spills and cleanup activities in rocky intertidal habitats. Terrie Klinger. Sponsor: NOAA. Amount: $10,599. Duration: Sept. 2003 - Sept. 2004.
Detecting Variability in Intertidal Temperature and Thermal Stress in Washington State: This research will form the basis for long-term studies of the impacts of local warming on nearshore ecosystems in Washington State. Terrie Klinger. Sponsor: UW Royalty Research Fund. Amount: $24,696.
Larval Rockfish Dispersal Trajectories in the Georgia Basin/Puget Sound of Washington State: Research conducted to use trace element analysis of otoliths from adult and larval rockfish in the Georgia Basin/Puget Sound region to determine the sources from which larvae originate and the oceanographic regions they occupy during the larval dispersal phase. Terrie Klinger (PI) and Lance Morgan (Co-PI). Sponsor: The Marine Environmental Health Program, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California at Davis. Amount: $115,857. Duration: Jan. 1, 2002 - Dec. 31, 2003.
Impacts of Intertidal Trampling on Intertidal Communities: Work to determine the impact of human trampling on intertidal invertebrate and algal communities. Terrie Klinger. Sponsor: National Park Service. Amount: $43,691. Duration: Sept 20, 2001 - Jan. 31, 2004.
Mukilteo Multimodal Project: Research on the characterization of wetland, intertidal and subtidal habitats and assessment of impacts associated with development of the Mukilteo Multimodal Site in Mukilteo, Washington. Terrie Klinger and Sandy Wyllie-Echeverria. Sponsor: Pacific International Engineering (PIE). Amount: $31,200.
Submerged Vegetation Monitoring in Puget Sound and Straits of Juan de Fuca: The primary objectives of the project are to assess the status and trends of eelgrass (Zostera marina) in the Puget Sound and the Straits of Juan de Fuca. Marc Hershman and Sandy Wyllie-Echeverria. Sponsor: Washington State Department of Natural Resources. Amount: $30,776.

For more information about research at the University of Washington visit: http://www.washington.edu/research/

UW School of Marine Affairs
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