Olympic Coast as a Sentinel

Resilience Actions for Tribal Community Well-Being in the Face of Ocean Change

Presenter: Dr. Melissa Poe

Register https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2113067154194375951

Indigenous people have depended on Olympic Coast marine species for their livelihoods, food security and cultural practices for thousands of years. Today, these species—and the tribal communities that depend on them—are at risk from ocean changes including ocean acidification. Dr. Melissa Poe, a social scientist at Washington Sea Grant, works in partnership with the Olympic Coast Treaty Tribes to better understand the risks of ocean change to tribal community well-being, and identify actions that are rooted in Indigenous priorities for resilience. 

Dr. Melissa Poe leads the social science program at Washington Sea Grant, where she works to identify, define and incorporate measures of human well-being and cultural practices into marine planning and ecosystem-based management. She is involved in Washington Sea Grant and NOAA’s ocean acidification and climate change programs, studying how our changing seas might impact the social and cultural values of West Coast coastal and fishing communities. Melissa serves as a social science advisor to regional bodies such as the Puget Sound Partnership. Melissa advises and mentors undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in human—nature interactions and earning degrees in programs ranging from human geography, public health, anthropology to environmental studies. Melissa is active in diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

This presentation is part of the NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary and Feiro Marine Life Center co-hosted Speaker Series for 2022 which focuses on resilience and adaptation in the face of climate change.