Noyo Center For Marine Science

Noyo Center celebrated its 10-Year Anniversary, marking the following decadal accomplishments: Established three facilities: Crows Nest Interpretive Center, Discovery Center, and Marine Field Station. Welcomed over 175,000 visitors across all facilities. Supported extensive community science programs, including urchin dockside sampling, intertidal sea star search, phytoplankton sampling, beach surveys for marine mammals, etc. Educated more than 20,000 youth. Hosted over 75 science talks. Removed more than 5,000 pounds of trash from beaches. Advanced regenerative aquaculture initiatives. Contributed to marine mammal research responding to over 700 animals and creating an extensive specimen collection. Kelp Recovery: Noyo Center launched a land-based regenerative aquaculture pilot project at its Field Station in Noyo Harbor to cultivate seaweeds and marine animals in ways that actively restore and improve ocean ecosystems and support the local economy. We have built a recirculating water system in a shipping container, pulling water from Noyo River on high tides. Purple urchin were the first animals in the system, testing the water quality while we explored ways to reduce grazing pressure on kelp and create a restorative seafood product. Community engagement was conducted throughout the process to keep students and the public informed and engaged. The following is being planned for aquaculture in partnership with Kashia Band of Pomo Indians, Bodega Marine Lab, CA Sea Grant, Moss Landing Marine Lab and others: Urchin ranching: creating kelp oasis zone off Kashias tribal lands by removing empty, unmarketable purple urchin and turning them into a valuable restorative seafood product. This work contributed to kelp forest restoration and sustainable seafood markets. Abalone Captive Breeding Program: Once permitted, adult wild abalone will be added to the system and fed until the become reproductive again. Abalone will be taken from the Mendocino coast in hopes of restocking the restoration zones in the future. Seaweed Tumble Culture: Dulse seaweed donated to Noyo Center from Monterey Seaweeds is now growing in tumble tanks to feed the abalone and the urchin. Marine Ecosystem Resiliency Project: Noyo Center launched its Resiliency Project at the Field Station in Noyo Harbor, with the following objectives: Advanced sea-level rise adaptation planning for the Field Station to serve as an example to other property owners in the harbor. This work is complimenting work done by the City of Fort Bragg and the County of Mendocino on SLR vulnerability. Continue collaboration on kelp forest restoration, primarily in Sonoma coast. Marine Mammal Stranding & Research Led marine mammal stranding response along the Mendocino Coast in collaboration with the California Academy of Sciences, The Marine Mammal Center, Cal Poly Humboldt, and NOAA as part of West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network. Led data collection efforts, specimen preparation and participated in cetacean necropsies. Expanded educational opportunities for interns and volunteers. Ocean Science Center Planning: Noyo advanced schematic design-phase work for the future Ocean Science Center. Planned features include research labs, a triage center, exhibit hall with 73-foot blue whale skeleton, aquarium, classrooms, and net-zero energy design. Education & Community Engagement Welcomed more than 29,000 visitors to the Discovery Center Science Museum and Crows Nest Interpretive Center. Provided hands-on learning to more than 500 students through school partnerships, after school programs, camps, and field trips. Offered more than 30 public programs including Science Talks, Whale Festival, and KelpFest! Engaged 104 volunteers who contributed more than 6,000 hours.