Congratulations to Lisa Cantore, who was chosen as the recipient of the 2024 Outstanding Staff Award. In her role as Assistant Director, Research Administration, Lisa was described as “untiring and indefatigable, working to get proposals submitted.”

Logs are being adjusted and plans are in place for floating gardens to be deployed into the cove of Be’er Sheva Park in South Seattle. The goal is to bolster fish habitat as part of a larger project to rejuvenate a Lake Washington beach that serves historically Black and diverse neighborhoods. SAFS PhD student, Ashley Townes, is leading the project, featured in a story by KUOW.

Julian Olden, a Professor at the UW School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (SAFS), has been chosen as one of 10 scientists to serve on the inaugural External Science Advisory Board (ESAB) for The Nature Conservancy (TNC).

Hunted nearly to extinction during 20th century whaling, the world’s largest animal, the Antarctic blue whale, went from a population size of roughly 200,000 to little more than 300. The most recent abundance estimate in 2004 put Antarctic blue whales at less than 1% of their pre-whaling levels. But is this population recovering? Is there just one population of Antarctic blue whales, or multiple? Why do these questions matter for conservation? PhD student, Zoe Rand, is tackling these questions in a new study.

Chelsea Wood, SAFS Associate Professor, has an upcoming children’s book titled “Power to the Parasites! Everything You (N)ever Wanted to Know About the Creepy Crawlies Hidden in Your Home, Your Food, Your Pets – and Maybe Even in You!” The book introduces kids to the world of parasitism.

In a new blog by Long Live the Kings, they explore the preliminary findings of post-restoration monitoring undertaken by the UW Wetland Ecosystem Team at a habitat restoration project at Vigor Shipyards, which was completed in the Spring of 2023.

The School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (SAFS) is hiring a Teaching Assistant for duties in Winter Quarter 2025. Apply by 6 November.

Polar bears in some parts of the high Arctic are developing ice buildup and related injuries to their feet, apparently due to changing sea ice conditions in a warming Arctic. While surveying the health of two polar bear populations, researchers led by Kristin Laidre from UW SAFS, found lacerations, hair loss, ice buildup and skin ulcerations primarily affecting the feet of adult bears as well as other parts of the body.

In a new video created by the Burke Museum, Fish Collections Manager Katherine Maslenikov takes us behind the scenes of the Burke Museum to answer questions about the giant bizarre Sunfish washing up on the shores of Oregon

Taking the AERA class as part of the Alaska Salmon Program was a pivotal moment for two undergrads, who went on to contribute to major discoveries in cryptic diversity in two vastly different species: harbor seals and fish parasites.