Sea Star Survey Volunteer Recruitment and Training

Sea star survey at Yachats.\Photo by Tara Dubois.

Join CoastWatch and North Coast Land Conservancy (NCLC) again this summer to monitor sea stars at Oswald West. Just as we did last spring, we'll start again with an orientation on Monday, June 5, from 7:30-9:30 AM. The event will take place at Short Sand Beach in Oswald West State Park (meet in main parking lot at restrooms at top of trail).

From NCLC "The sea star survey at Cape Falcon Marine Reserve runs during Summer 2023. It is being conducted in partnership with the Multi-Agency Rocky Intertidal Network (MARINe) and the Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition.

Sea Star Surveys monitor the health of sea star populations on the U.S. West Coast after an initial sea star wasting event in 2013. Volunteers are asked to sign up for at least three shifts of three hours each. Physical demands related to survey activities include getting from the parking site to the tide pools on the beach, bending over for sustained periods, and being in the water.

Shifts occur one hour before and one hour after minus tides events. Volunteer surveyors should be interested in interacting with wildlife and completing detailed work, as the program focuses on finding, measuring, and documenting sea stars' size and physical state. This project takes place in the intertidal zone of Short Sand Beach in Oswald West State Park, which can be slippery and uneven."

For questions, email Jesse Jones. This event is free, but registration is required.