At our annual Cherry Point Science Forum, we invite local researchers to talk about amazing science happening at Cherry Point in our backyard and the Salish Sea at large. This year’s forum will include speakers presenting on marine mammals and the implications of the summer heat wave along with longer term patterns of environmental and ecological change in our coastal marine ecosystems.

Located in Whatcom County, the Cherry Point Aquatic Reserve is one of eight Aquatic Reserves in the state. Established by DNR on state-owned aquatic lands in Puget Sound, Aquatic Reserves include important biodiversity and aquatic habitat critical to Salish Sea health.

Cherry Point Forum presentations

-Dr. Christopher Harley, Professor at the University of British Columbia, Department of Zoology.
“Death in the afternoon: climate change, heatwaves, and seashore life in the Salish Sea.” The record-breaking western heatwave in June 2021 killed billions of sea creatures in the Salish Sea. Dr. Harley will discuss the implications of this event along with longer term patterns of environmental and ecological change in our coastal marine ecosystems.

-Casey McLean, Executive Director and Veterinary Nurse at SeaLife Response, Rehabilitation, and Research (SR3).
“New Hospital; New Hope for Marine Wildlife.” SR3’s successful first year of operating the first marine mammal rehabilitation center in the Pacific Northwest. SR3’s team disentangles sea lions and large whales from marine debris, responds to stranded or injured marine wildlife, studies cetacean health with an emphasis on resident killer whales, and works with tribes and other local communities to support wildlife health and community involvement.

The Cherry Point Science Forum is free and open to the public. 

RSVP on Zoom

For more information, contact Eleanor Hines at eleanorh@re-sources.org