Extended Reach

Group of Caspian Terns on Long Beach, WA

There is no doubt that birds like this Caspian Tern
benefit from COASST work. But these guys
are among a wide community of benefactors

By now it is no secret that I’m a bird guy. I’m fascinated by them, inspired by them and enjoy learning more about them. Consequently, I’m definitely interested in the many ways that COASST supports and extends research about birds. However, meeting with Long Beach (WA) COASSTer Paul today reminded me that the information collected and analyzed by the COASST program has benefit and value for many other segments of the coastal community. Paul has an impressive background in fisheries research and management (of all types) on both the east and west coasts and knows the importance of water quality for the industry. He has seen the damage caused by bacteria, disease, and invasive species and understands how high the stakes are when it comes to such threats. Any indicator of water quality is of great significance for these industries. Still connected to the fisheries community, and the people and livelihoods it supports, Paul is a big believer in the services provided by the scientific community (both vocational and avocational types) by maintaining consistent environmental monitoring protocols, whether that involves invasive species surveys, bacterial epidemiology studies, or picking up dead sea birds to evaluate trends and identify problems. Every piece helps keep a pulse on the health of the ecosystems that our communities rely on.  Being a part of COASST is one way for Paul to contribute to that process, a process that reaches far beyond what I imagined.