Pacific Shellfish Institute

Hi! We are the Pacific Shellfish Institute, a research-based nonprofit in downtown Olympia. Staff at PSI are both scientists and informal educators. We conduct research in South Puget Sound and enjoy sharing our locally relevant work with students, teachers, and the community. Thanks to generous funding from local Foundations, grants, and individuals like yourself, PSI is able to serve all students – free of charge – in Lewis, Mason, Thurston, Pierce, Grays Harbor, and Pacific Counties. PSI is dedicated to inspiring students to become the next generation of scientists and stewards of our oceans and estuaries. We offer an array of classroom presentations and field trip opportunities that increase scientific literacy through hands-on activities, outdoor experiential investigations, engineering solutions, and action projects. Your generosity today will directly influence the scope of our projects and the number of students and community members we are able to serve. Join our team in bringing experiential, hands-on learning to people around Puget Sound!!

Research

One example of research conducted at PSI that directly impacts the health of our community is through the Sound Toxins Program. In high concentrations, certain plankton can cause health issues to humans who consume them or the filter feeders that feed upon them. SoundToxins, a diverse partnership of Puget Sound and coastal Washington volunteers. It is a monitoring program designed to provide early warning of Harmful Algal Bloom events in order to minimize both human health risks and economic losses to Puget Sound fisheries. We collect plankton in Budd Inlet, view them under the microscope for species counts, and import data into the SoundToxins database. Your donation today will support this ongoing participation.

Community Resources                   

PSI strongly believes in the hands-on, experience-based learning that takes place when we connect to our own watersheds in fun and meaningful ways. Our Discover Plankton lendable kits that are available to check out from PSI downtown Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater Timberland Libraries have been a great asset to the community. Now students and the community have access to plankton nets, secchi discs, microscopes, and field guides to investigate what’s in the water in their own backyard! We have decided to host Plankton Workshop nights- a night where all are welcome to come hangout with PSI and learn how to use the gear available to them and view a live plankton sample. The workshops are a huge hit! Your financial support will allow PSI to continue hosting Plankton Workshops and maintain these  awesome kits, by replacing lost/damaged parts, and create additional kits for our neighboring libraries.

Outreach & Clean-ups

Protecting Puget Sound water quality for shellfish and all who depend on it is a passion. PSI LOVES to inspire Puget Sound stewardship through our own individual actions and by hosting community events, including Waterfront Tours, What’s Blooming, and Clean-ups. Our goal this year is to sponsor 4 clean-ups where PSI and partners can educate the community about local recycling rules, stormwater runoff, and common pollutants such as trash and pet waste. Clean-ups are a fun and easy way to keep pollution off the ground and out of Puget Sound. Your donations will be used to organize events, replenish supplies, and mobilize the people's power! This means your donation will go directly towards less trash making its way into the ocean.