Alaska Wildlife Alliance believes that we are stronger advocates for wildlife when we work together. Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST) is a 19 year old citizen science project housed at the University of Washington and focused on the beach environment of the northeast Pacific. Since their beginning, over 1,000 participants on more than 450 beaches spanning four states have contributed directly to monitoring their local marine resources and ecosystem health.
COASST is one of Alaska Wildlife Alliance’s Conservation Coalition partners, and we’re hoping to get more of Alaska’s coastal communities involved in this important research!
Join COASST Executive Director Dr. Julia Parrish for a walk down memory lane, as she describes the history of the Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team. This talk will be complete with photos from the 'archives' and highlights from the beached birds and marine debris programs.
Click here to register for the event!
Why does COASST have seabird die-off alerts?
In Alaska, coastal communities are witnessing a changing marine environment, including rising ocean temperatures, shifting fisheries, and increases in disease and toxic algal blooms. Seabirds – occurring in Alaska by the millions – feel these pressures as well. Since 2015, residents across the state have witnessed an unprecedented number, duration and geographic extent of seabird die-offs.
How does it work?
DoA surveyors send in when a die-off event is taking place. Here’s how it works.
Get trained by contacting COASST.
COASST will send out an alert if we hear of an ongoing die-off.
Conduct a survey on your local beach when a die-off event begins.
Send observations to coasst@uw.edu or 206-221-6893.
COASST reviews photos to determine numbers and species. All information is returned to the affected communities.
What are the goals?
Die-off Alert bears witness to the changes in coastal Alaska. Observations collectively reveal the species, quantity, geography, and timing of seabird die-offs. COASST is committed to making the data and analyses available to communities so that locally-collected information can be used in decision-making and resource management.
If a die-off event hits your coastline, participants are ready to survey beaches, find carcasses, take photographs and document the location.
Sign up for the webinar here: https://washington.zoom.us/webinar/register/1116045217456/WN_UftjRc7HQGa6Vc-Scyh3aQ
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