Washington Sea Grant

The motto for Pumpout Washington is “Pump out, don’t dump out!” Puget Sound is a No Discharge Zone, which means both treated and untreated sewage must be disposed of properly at pumpout stations, not dumped in the water.

Washington’s No Discharge Zone includes Puget Sound (all marine waters east of New Dungeness Lighthouse), Lake Washington, Lake Union, and connecting waterways. By law, boaters must properly dispose of sewage within these bodies of water. Good thing that with the free Pumpout Nav app, a nearby pumpout station is just a tap away!

Washington Department of Ecology
Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN for Tide's Out, WSG's FREE Crew Training Course happening July 27-31! Register here by July 10: bit.ly/tides-out-crew-training-2026

Held in South Bend, WA, this free course is designed to provide youth and young adults the skills for being a successful shellfish farmhand and processor. Participation is open to anyone age 18+ looking to learn more about working in the coastal shellfish industry, the broader maritime sector and/or marine resource management.

Sign up and take the next step in your career in shellfish today!

Photo courtesy of Oregon Sea Grant.

Small oil spills are a big deal. Compounds in oil, like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can enter the environment through small oil spills and negatively impact the health of marine animals, including Washington’s endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales.

Washington Sea Grant Small Oil Spills Prevention Program provides boaters with knowledge and tools to stop oil from entering our waterways. This summer, follow WSG socials to learn more about how to enjoy the water – while keeping it clean for everyone.

Washington Department of Ecology

Are you ready to take your aquaculture business to the next level? Join us in Vancouver on July 11th for this hands-on workshop designed specifically for U.S. aquaculture producers looking to strengthen the financial health and long-term success of their operations. This workshop is part of a larger initiative to bring business practices and financial management to farmers across the United States — where we've already delivered trainings along the East Coast and Midwest.

📍Where: HILTON VANCOUVER WASHINGTON,
301 W. 6TH STREET, VANCOUVER, WA
98660 | REMOTE OPTION offered

📆When: Saturday, July 11, 2026, from 10am to 4pm (PST)

📒What: Business planning, farm financial management, strategic marketing | Lunch provided and free to register

👋Who: Existing and interested aquaculture producers and entrepreneurs | Extension, government, and academia are also welcome to participate. (Max: 25)

Click the link in our bio to register by June 29th.

Students from Orcas Island Middle School discovered a green crab molt while on a field trip in May — the first detection of the highly invasive species on the island. After reporting the find to WSG Crab Team, Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife followed up with trapping efforts and captured a live European green crab, revealing further evidence of the crab's presence.

Learn more about the new green crab detections and their implications, and how you can participate in continued monitoring at the Salish Sea-Wide Molt Blitz on June 26, at waseagrant.uw.edu.

Photo 1: Paxton Erwin, seventh grader at Orcas Island Middle School, holds the green crab molt he found at Crescent Beach.
Photo 2: Students in the Orcas Island exploratory marine science class comb Crescent Beach, on Orcas Island, searching for crab molts.

Photos by Amy Sprenger, WSG Crab Team volunteer monitor and Orcas Island Middle School science teacher.

UW College of the Environment National Sea Grant College Program

One week till Molt Blitz!! Are you trained up? We have a few trainings left before the big day if you still need to learn how to Molt Search!
- June 20: 2 p.m. at Saltwater State Park in Des Moines
- June 23: 5:30 p.m. at Jack Hyde Park in Tacoma
- June 24: 12 p.m. online! Zoom in from wherever you are for a virtual Molt Search training right before Molt Blitz!

On June 26, complete a Molt Search on a beach near you to contribute to the largest single-day dataset of crab molts in Washington! Visit bit.ly/moltblitz2026 to sign up for a training and see our list of day-of Molt Blitz beach activations. 🦀🦀🦀

In partnership with Washington State Parks, Pumpout Washington is a Washington Sea Grant education and outreach program empowering more than 10,000 boaters to properly dispose of sewage.

Pumpout Washington provides information and free tools to boaters and marinas to promote efficient and safe pumping out. Follow WSG socials this summer to learn more about this critical program and where to find more resources to help keep our waterways clean!

Washington Department of Ecology

Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission

It's almost time for NOAA Science Camp! For more than 20 years, Washington Sea Grant has invited middle school students to immerse themselves in all things marine science through a week-long camp facilitated by NOAA scientists and volunteers. Students gain practical firsthand experiences and skills while learning from experts in fisheries, oceanography and marine mammal studies.

“The past couple of years have really given us an opportunity to think about how to reach new audiences, work with new partners, and make our programs more accessible,” says Maile Sullivan, WSG education specialist. Since 2003 the program has taken many forms, from the virtual and outdoor learning introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic to lessons focused on solving real-world problems.

Registration is closed this year with a full waitlist. We are excited to welcome this year’s cohort of students to the program! You can learn more about NOAA Science Camp on our website. 🪼

These hot days mean busy waters! ☀️🛥️🛳️⛴️

We paddled out on Lake Union yesterday to share tips for preventing small oil spills and passed out free fuel bibs and bilge pillows. Clean boating starts with simple habits — together we can do our part to keep our waters clean and healthy for all.

Washington Department of Ecology

These hot days mean busy waters! ☀️🛥️🚤⛴️ We paddled out on Lake Union yesterday to share tips for preventing small oil spills and passed out free fuel bibs and bilge pillows. Clean boating starts with simple habits — together we can do our parts to keep our waters clean and healthy for all. @ecologywa #SpillsArentSlick

Low tides are back and there's a lot to see! It's amazing to witness the variety of life carrying on in the intertidal.

If you do make it to the beach, be sure to tread gently and treat any animals you see with respect. In the meantime, enjoy some critter photos taken by WSG staffers over the last few years. Happy tidepooling!