Island County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) is an advisory body to county government established in 1999 and comprised of many community volunteers who represent diverse interests and industries, with the common goal to protect and restore marine resources in the Puget Sound area through scientific monitoring, restoration projects, and community education.

About Us
Photo credit: Rich Yukubousky
Cornet Bay - Stewardship Event
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Congratulations, Frances!

Meet Frances Wood, the recipient of the 2022 Jan Holmes Island County Coastal Volunteer of the Year award!

Frances Wood in collaboration with Phyllis Kind (recipient of the 2013 award) developed the original protocol which was designed to recruit local volunteers to monitor Pigeon Guillemot colonies along bluffs in Island County. The survey was begun in 2004. In 2020, under Frances’ steady leadership, this initial survey has grown to become the Salish Sea Guillemot Network (SSGN) and is steadily expanding to include multiple locations within the Salish Sea.

Read more about Frances and her volunteer work here!

Volunteer of the Year
Photo: Hugh Shipman

The 2021 Needs Assessment Summary is Live!

As a result of months of hard work conducting interviews and synthesizing data, the 2021 MRC Needs Assessment Overview is available for distribution! This concise document will inform the MRC's decisions for years to come. Check it out here:

2021 Needs Assessment Overview

For more supporting documentation, visit the 2021 Needs Assessment Project page.

Plastics on the Beach. Credit: Northwest Straits Commission

The Whole Family Can Make a Difference On Our Shorelines!

Join us in cleaning up our beaches and learning about the trash that we find on them. 

We've put together a fun activity that can be done with the whole family! Check out our Trash Clean-Up Graph, head to your nearest beach and see what trash you discover. Then graph your findings on the chart, properly dispose of the trash, and share your results with us!

Trash Clean-Up Graph.pdf
Photo: Jan Kocian

Check Out Our Eelgrass Storymap!

Back in 2007, a concerned resident noticed that the eelgrass beds near her home were disappearing. She decided to take action, and soon community scientists embarked on a ten-year research project to learn about the health and distribution of eelgrass beds in Island County, Washington.

This Storymap covers what eelgrass is and its role in our ecosystem, the research that this community science team conducted, the Island County Marine Resources Committee, and ways that you can help protect this critical habitat. It features stunning photography and relatable science in an immersive platform.

After interacting with the Storymap, please fill out this learning assessment for a chance to win your very own copy of Sound Water Steward’s newest edition of Getting to the Water’s Edge on Whidbey & Camano Islands. The assessment will close on June 4th, and the drawing will be held shortly after.

View the Eelgrass Storymap