LIVE Video from PTMSC Volunteer's Research Cruise

This weekend we will be streaming video from our volunteer, Nam's research cruise in the Caribbean. Come to the Marine Exhibit to check it out on the big screen, or stream it at home on your computer. Here's an endorsement from the travelling man himself:

“As a volunteer of the PTMSC, I am proud to represent Port Townsend as a science intern aboard the E/V Nautilus during the last two legs of the 2013 expedition in the Caribbean. 

We are currently examining the impacts of volcanic eruptions on the seafloor off the coast of Montserrat. By next week we will be exploring the most active and dangerous submarine volcano (Kick’em Jenny) off the coast of Grenada. The tools and instruments we are using include multi-beam SONAR and sub-bottom (ground penetrating RADAR) for seafloor mapping, as well as the ROVs Hercules and Argus to collect images, videos and samples from the seafloor.

Visit www.nautiluslive.org to read more about our mission, crew, ship, ROVs, and to tune in live as we explore the unknown depths. My watches till Oct 25^th are from 05:00 to 09:00 and 17:00 to 21:00 PST, I will keep everyone updated on my future watch hours. Click on the participate tab on the right-hand side of the page to send us a message. Please remember to note who you are, where you are messaging from, and if you address it to me, our educator will make sure I get your message!”

We can't wait to watch the ROV footage this weekend and we hope exhibit visitors enjoy sending in their questions and messages to the researchers on the Nautilus. 

PTMSC volunteer needs your vote!

Ella Ashford, finalist for EPA contest!

You may remember Ella from the elephant seal bonanza this past spring. She donated dozens of hours seal sitting Star, and is also helping with other citizen science projects at the Marine Science Center, as well as docenting in our exhibits. Did I mention she is 12 years old? 

Ella is a finalist for the EPA's 2013 Rachel Carson Sense of Wonder contest. Now it's up to the public to decide the winner. Please watch her 2-minute PT sustainability song "Me and You" below and then support our young volunteer by casting your vote here: aging.info@epa.gov. Spread the news far and wide.

Deadline is this Friday, October 25th so hurry!!

Did you notice our Science Center volunteers and staff? Looks like she saved the best for last!

For more about Ella's song and inspiration, follow this link: http://www.epa.gov/aging/carson/2013/song/me-you.htm

GO ELLA!

PTMSC Abalone ½ way house; Citizen Science fueling restoration of the Salish Sea

Hi I am Annie and I love abalone! I am a new Americorps Member at PTMSC, focusing on Citizen Science.  Two summers ago, I helped out with an abalone restoration project doing surveys which were monitoring the restoration efforts on out plant sites in the San Juan Islands.  I am so excited to be at PTMSC and working with abalone again!

Here is some info about the story of abalone in WA State:

Haliotis kamtschatkana or the Pinto Abalone is a marine gastropod of the Salish Sea. Starting in the early 1900s, Abalone were overfished in Washington State by sport fisherman.  In 1994 it was recognized that the abalone population had seriously declined and the fishery was closed. The naturally remaining Abalone in the Salish Sea are old, consequently big, and most likely too far away from other abalone to reproduce. Abalone are broadcast spawners which makes reproduction difficult when individuals are far apart and low in numbers.

Puget Sound Restoration Fund (PSRF) is a group powering marine restoration projects in the Salish Sea. The goal for the abalone restoration project is to reintroduce abalone into aggregations with densities high enough for successful broadcast spawning. Our planting efforts started in 2009 when thousands of juvenile abalone were replaced at permanent sub tidal outplants sites around the Salish Sea. Last December, PSRF tried a new restoration technique releasing 400,000 additional larval abalone.

What is the role of PTMSC in abalone restoration?

PTMSC is raising over 200 juvenile Abalone for future abalone restoration efforts.  Every week volunteers feed, measure and weigh the tagged individuals to get information on growth rates.

 

Abalone are a little tricky to handle because they are excellent at sticking to surfaces and move surprisingly quick. Volunteers have been using diligence and team work to get measurements on these sneaky invertebrates.

Volunteers have learned that that Pycnopodia helianthoides or Sunflower sea star is a valuable tool for abalone wrangling.  When Abalone come across the chemical cue of a sunflower sea star they pick up and move quickly allowing an easy snatch.

Thank you to our talented and committed Citizen Scientists for all their help on this project.

PTMSC receives $3000 gift from Wells Fargo Bank

Linnea Rivel, Service Manager at the local Wells Fargo Bank (on right), presents a check for $3,000 to benefit under-served students of the North Olympic Peninsula. Janine Boire, Executive Director of the Port Townsend Marine Science Center (on left) is thrilled to receive the support. The Center connects local children with the environment through hands-on activities and classes. Photo courtesy of PTMSC

VIDEO: A Link To Action

Short video highlighting the work being done by the Marine Mammal Stranding Network and it's volunteers coordinated through the Port Townsend Marine Science Center. Video produced by Al Bergstein.

Port Townsend Marine Science Center - The Link to Action from Al Bergstein on Vimeo.

To learn more, check out PTMSC's Marine Mammal Stranding Network page.

Special screening of Blackfish at the Rose Theatre

Saturday, September 28th
1 p.m.
Rose Theatre,
Port Townsend

Join the crews from Puget Sound Express and the PT Marine Science Center at the Rose Theatre for a special screening of Blackfish.

Ken Balcomb, who’s featured throughout the film and is the executive director of the Center for Whale Research in Friday Harbor, will do a Q&A following the screening. The event is co-sponsored by Puget Sound Express, the Rose Theatre and the Port Townsend Marine Science Center (PTSMC). Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors and $6 for children.

Blackfish is described as a mesmerizing psychological thriller with a killer whale (orca) at its center. The film features the story of Tilikum, who is an Icelandic transient. Unapologetically designed to both inform and affect, this delicately lacerating documentary uses the tragic tale of a single whale and his human victims as the backbone of a hypercritical investigation into the marine-park giant Sea World Entertainment.
“The documentary Blackfish helps us understand the social structure of whales and provides a glimmer into their complex society,” said Janine Boire, executive director for the PTMSC. “The movie challenges our view of humans and whales and how we interact together.”

Pete Hanke, owner of Puget Sound Express, agreed saying, “The events portrayed in the film that took place 40 years ago still affect the orca population in our area today.  Blackfish certainly brings to our attention the impact of whale imprisonment for human amusement.”

Ken Balcomb is a pioneer in photo-identification of cetaceans and is the founder of Orca Survey (1976), a study of Pacific Northwest Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcas). Not only has he participated in humpback studies across both oceans but also rare beaked whale identification throughout the world. One of his main interests is the effect of sonar on cetaceans and how that causes mass stranding. He founded the non-profit Center for Whale Research in 1985 and is its executive director.

Puget Sound Express has been in operation as a charter boat company for 27 years, offering whale watching tours. It’s a family-run business, with three generations of knowledge and caring at the ready. For more information, go to www.pugetsoundexpress.com or call 360.385.5288.

Oceanography On The Dock

Thursday, August 15
11am - Noon

Friday, August 16
2 - 4pm

Sunday, August 18
11am - Noon

FREE

Try your hand at being a scientist.

Use oceanography tools.

Learn why we measure things such as pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen and  nutrients in the water.

Drop in or stay as long as you like.

More sessions will be scheduled for July, August and into the fall.  Check back for dates!

For more information or to sign up, contact Jamie at 360-385-5582 x112 or email jlandry@ptmsc.org