SMEA students Walker Hobson and Jane Holiday are featured in a recent New York Times article exploring the challenges posed by invasive green crabs and their impacts on coastal ecosystems.
Their research, conducted in partnership with Washington Sea Grant, contributes to a growing understanding of invasive species and the complex environmental challenges facing coastal communities. Through this work, they are helping advance important conversations about marine ecosystems, conservation, and the future of our oceans. 

On July 28, SMEA students Eve Byers, Paul Messier, and Katie Raab joined recent SMEA graduate Sawyer Jenkins for a field sampling trip to an Olympia oyster bed in Padilla Bay near Edison, Washington.
The trip was part of the sample collection process for Eve’s thesis project, which examines larval crab composition in Olympia oyster beds. The research requires getting out into the field to collect samples to better understand the organisms living within these important coastal habitats. 

The School of Marine & Environmental Affairs is proud to congratulate master’s student Tessa Marks on receiving a Fulbright Research Grant to Honduras.
Marks, a student in Marine & Environmental Affairs and International Studies, will conduct research on mangrove forests in the Bay Islands of Honduras, part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. Working with the Bay Islands Conservation Association on the island of Roatán, she will explore how ecological conditions, governance structures, and community priorities influence mangrove protection and restoration efforts. 

The Coastal Fisheries & Communities Lab at SMEA published a new paper in the journal Aquaculture, which is available to read and download at this link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0044848626006447?via%3Dihub. The paper documents the Gulf of Alaska mariculture industry at a pivotal moment in its development, as told through the perspectives of people whose knowledge, advocacy, and deep commitment have built new opportunities for their communities from the ground up. 

On Thursday, June 11, 2026, the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs celebrated the Class of 2026, honoring 29 students who earned their Master of Marine Affairs (MMA) degrees. These graduates now join an esteemed community of nearly 1,000 alumni and world-class policymakers dedicated to building a resilient future in marine and environmental affairs.
The ceremony began with opening remarks from SMEA Director Dr. 

The 2026 capstone and thesis projects at SMEA showcased a diverse range of interdisciplinary research addressing important environmental and social issues. Capstone partnered with communities and organizations to address real-world environmental challenges, including tribal perspectives on offshore wind development, fish barrier removal coordination with the South Whidbey Basin, and the continuation of Chief Leschi School’s food forest. Thesis students conducted independent research on topics ranging from critical mineral sourcing, forced labor in fisheries, and vessel strike reduction. 

SMEA second-year student Maddie Gard participated in the Washington Ocean Acidification Center’s spring research cruise aboard the Rachel Carson UW vessel from April 13–17.
The cruise, conducted three times annually throughout Puget Sound, supports long-term monitoring of ocean conditions and collects a wide range of environmental data, including eDNA samples.
During the cruise, Maddie worked alongside the research team to deploy the CTD and process water samples in the ship’s wet lab for chlorophyll measurements and eDNA preservation. 

The School of Marine and Environmental Affairs is excited to host the 2026 SMEA Spring Presentations on Friday, May 15 and Friday, May 22.
Over the course of two presentation days, SMEA students will share their thesis and capstone research addressing a wide range of marine and environmental challenges. Presentation topics include climate policy implementation, offshore wind development, fisheries management, ocean acidification communication, harmful algal blooms, ecosystem restoration, kelp habitat modeling, and tribal partnerships. 

Join us on May 15th and May 22nd for our graduates’ Capstone and Thesis projects. Check out the lineup below!! 

This spring, Eitan Gerstle, 2nd year SMEA student, spent time in the Stillaguamish River estuary contributing to ongoing research on estuary restoration and its benefits for salmon and their prey.
Working as a research assistant with Dr. Anne Beaudreau, Eitan joined collaborators from The Nature Conservancy, Skagit River System Cooperative, and the Stillaguamish Tribe to help monitor ecological changes in restored estuarine habitats.