Washington Sea Grant contributes almost $2 million to fund research in coastal Washington
Seven projects have been selected through a competitive request for proposals process
Washington Sea Grant is contributing nearly $2 million in funding for new marine research projects in 2026. The selected projects prioritize addressing issues of concern to Puget Sound and Washington’s Pacific coastal communities, as well as align with Washington Sea Grant’s four strategic focus areas: Environmental Literacy and Workforce Development, Resilient Communities and Economies, Healthy Coastal Ecosystems, and Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture. Washington Sea Grant’s request for proposal process places an emphasis on cultivating partnerships, advancing inclusive research practices, and addressing climate-change related problems and solutions.
Seven projects were selected to receive funding through a competitive process. Below are the titles of the projects, their corresponding principal investigators, and a short summary of each project. Learn more about these, and other current and completed projects in our Funded Research Database.
Collaborative Science and Modeling to Understand Processes Affecting Dungeness Crab Recruitment in the Salish Sea (P. Sean McDonald, University of Washington) – Given the ecological, cultural, and economic importance of Dungeness crab, this project aims to more clearly define the dynamics that impact crab larval recruitment in the Salish Sea.
Conservation of the phenological variability of an ecosystem foundation species: reassessing the spatio-temporal distribution of herring spawning in Puget Sound (Lorenz Hauser, University of Washington) – Herring is a foundational species in Puget Sound’s ecosystem. By clarifying which population groups spawn at which times, and how large these population groups are, this project aims to improve how herring recovery is managed.
Determining the impacts of varying ocean conditions on the seasonal migration and distribution of a cultural keystone species in the Usual and Accustomed Fishing Area of the Makah Tribe and the Washington coast (William Jasper, Makah Tribe) – This project will investigate existing movement and spawning habits of Pacific halibut, how long-term and seasonal fluctuations in the marine environment may impact how halibut utilize their seasonal habitats, and how these behavioral and migratory changes may impact place-based Tribal fishing practices in Usual and Accustomed areas.
Developing an assay for early detection of domoic acid production in coastal Washington (Sean McAllister, University of Washington) – Domoic-acid produced by harmful algal blooms increasingly puts people and animals at risk. This project aims to develop an early-warning system to improve monitoring and forecasting for these harmful blooms.
Evaluating the psychological and social benefits of community-engaged ecosystem restoration in Puget Sound (Carter Smith, University of Washington) – Along with benefits to ecosystems, restoration work may also improve the well-being of those participating. This project will explore how engaging in restoration work may impact participants’ place attachment, optimism, and social connectedness.
Exploring how Dungeness crabs use Olympia oyster habitat with implications for restoration (Jodie Toft, Puget Sound Restoration Fund) – This project will evaluate the potential for co-restoration for two important Washington species, Dungeness crab and Olympia oysters, by investigating whether restored Olympia oyster sites provide benefits for juvenile Dungeness crabs.
Impacts of floating oyster aquaculture on coastal sediment dynamics in Willapa Bay, WA (Kendall Valentine, University of Washington) – Amid growing challenges in using on-bottom culture methods to grow oysters, this project will evaluate the impacts of flip-bags, a floating aquaculture method, on the surrounding water and sediment.
