Completed Projects
The PTMSC partnered with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to 
conduct a study of escape cords used on crab pots. Recreational and commercial crabbers are required to use natural cord on crab traps that disintegrates over time so that captured crabs can escape if gear is lost. The goal of this study, which was conducted for five months in 2006, was to determine how long various cord materials take to decompose. Test results were used to educate the public by WDFW and Water/Beachwatchers about which type of cord to use on their pots.
Long-Term Monitoring Program and Experiential Training for Students 
(LiMPETS) This program is an intertidal transact inventory of Kinze Beach. This study is done 3 to 4 times a year, often with program participants such as summer camp and teachers workshops. Our goal is to train a team of volunteers in the survey protocols so that they can assist with visiting groups and carry out a fall survey. The cool thing about this project is that all groups participating in this partnership with the National Marine Sanctuaries and NOAA follow the same protocol and data is available on a NOAA web site.
Students Help the WDFW Find the Most Effective Shrimp Tag
Tag Study 2006: streamer tag effect on ovigerous female’s longevity
Students and volunteers are conducting a Spot Shrimp study in order to find the best shrimp tag for use by WDFW. By finding a tag that does not interfere with the health and behavior of the shrimp, biologists can gain life history data about these animals that are harvested for recreational and commercial use.
The ecological impacts of seaweed harvesting are mostly unknown and the potential impacts on the ecosystem are poorly understood. The PTMSC decided to look at the issue of seaweed harvesting and conducted a three-year study to evaluate some of the effects associated with recreational seaweed harvesting.