In order to protect Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary for future generations, we need to understand it. However, the ocean is always changing, making it difficult to know what are natural changes versus man-made. It is a vast, interrelated system of physical, chemical and biological processes. And the technical challenges of studying the underwater environment make research very costly and difficult, especially in a remote site like the Olympic coast.

We study Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary for three important reasons: to explore and know what's there, to detect trends-improvements or declines in important resources or changes that are part of larger global processes and to give us the scientific basis for making important conservation decisions.

Our research program includes all of these missions. Through ocean exploration and mapping we learn more about the resources we are protecting. With ongoing research we take stock of resources and monitor trends and carry out experimental studies. With all of these activities, we bring sound science to the process of making decisions and managing Sanctuary resources.

Read about our featured science program - work we are currently doing or exciting projects we've carried out recently. For scientists interested in working in the Sanctuary, take a look at the species lists and information on permits, regulations and ways we can support research. We've also included a section for scientists and others interested in the Research Section of the 1993 Draft Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement and Sanctuary reports.