Otter talk
The Whale Museum welcomes our new Research Curator, Shawn Larson, as part of the 2016 Summer Lecture Series on Wednesday, July 13 at 6:30 p.m. Larson will present her book “Sea Otter Conservation” discussing the sea otters’ unique biology, ecology and the fascinating history with people. Sea otters and people share the same near shore Pacific ecosystem, with documented interactions between the two dating back thousands of years starting with important relationships with native people, followed by the widespread serial extinctions during the fur trade, and culminating in over 100 years of conservation actions to ensure the survival of this iconic species.
Shawn has a doctorate from the school of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences at the University of Washington. She is the Research Curator at The Whale Museum on a part-time basis. Larson is also the Curator of Research at the Seattle Aquarium where she conducts conservation research on sea otters, sixgill sharks, Giant Pacific Octopus, rockfish and Hawaii fish. When she’s not at work or commuting to San Juan Island, she enjoys sharing her small farm in Hansville. Marine Survival Project
The Whale Museum welcomes Jacques White of Long Live the Kings as part of the free series on Thursday, July 14 at 6:30 p.m. LLTK was established in 1986 by a group of salmon enthusiasts alarmed by declines in wild salmon runs. LLTK’s projects include the Glenwood Springs Hatchery Program on Orcas which has created a Chinook salmon run in Eastsound. In 2012, LLTK joined forces with Canada’s Pacific Salmon Foundation to establish the Salish Sea Marine Survival Project. Today, over 60 organizations are working internationally through SSMSP to solve the biggest mystery impacting salmon recovery and sustainable fisheries: why are salmon dying in the Salish Sea? Jacques will discuss the project and Long Live the Kings, both focused on long-term salmon recovery and ecosystem restoration.
Jacques White is the Executive Director of LLTK and representative partner with the SSMSP. Prior to becoming LLTK’s Executive Director in March 2010, Jacques served as Director of Marine Conservation at the Nature Conservancy of Washington and Director of Science and Habitat Programs at People for Puget Sound. He currently serves as a member of the Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Council of the Puget Sound Partnership and the Washington Sea Grant Advisory Committee. Jacques has received several awards for his scientific research; authored more than 20 scientific and policy articles and publications; and frequently speaks at regional and national environmental conferences. He holds a doctorate in Marine, Estuarine, and Environmental Sciences from the University of Maryland, an masters in science in Marine Science from Louisiana State University, and a bachelor’s of science in oceanography and a bachelor of arts in zoology from the University of Washington.
For info, call 378-4710 ext. 30 or visit www.whalemuseum.org. The Whale Museum’s mission is to promote stewardship of whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem through education and research. In addition to providing exhibits, the Museum also provides programs including the Marine Naturalist Training, Orca Adoption Program, Soundwatch Boater Education, San Juan Islands Marine Mammal Stranding Network, and the Whale Hotline.
