Education, Conservation, and Restoration of the Marine Environment
Connecting Ecosystems, Cultures and Communities
We believe communities are the heart of conservation and restoration. From the most vulnerable ecosystems to the most resilient, we strive to understand, measure, and mitigate the impacts of human activity and climate change on coastal ecosystems for the benefit of all communities.
Whether mapping the British Columbia shoreline, connecting with volunteers and donors at special events, or collecting biodiversity data as part of our newest Resilient Estuaries of the Salish Sea initiative, we combine scientific methodologies with a passion for protecting vulnerable ecosystems in the coastal communities we call home.
We Get Things Done
Building awareness for change since 1998
In 1998, Nikki Wright and Sarah Verstegen began building a legacy for conservation work in the Salish Sea, founding SeaChange as a not-for-profit organization with a vision to make a difference in people’s attitudes and behaviour towards the ocean. Together with a small board of directors and partnerships with other local conservation groups, Nikki and Sarah began with a small eelgrass transplant in SṈIDȻEȽ and grew SeaChange into the wide-reaching organization it is today.
Resilient Estuaries of the Salish Sea Initiative
Formed where freshwater from rivers meets the sea, estuaries are nurseries and habitats for economically and culturally important species, including salmon. But estuaries are also under threat from human activity and invasive species. Working alongside our partners and collaborators—the Tsawout Fisheries, Peninsula Streams Society, and the Pacific Salmon Foundation—the Resilient Estuaries of the Salish Sea (RESS) project team aims to identify and restore estuaries that will provide crucial ecological hotspots as the oceans are altered by climate change.
The ShoreZone Program
First developed in 1979 and tested on the shorelines near Victoria, BC, ShoreZone is a precise system for habitat mapping and classification originally designed to create baseline data for oil spill response. In 2022, we acquired the ShoreZone program, along with its specially trained survey team who have to date mapped the entire nearshore coastlines of British Columbia, Alaska, Oregon, Washington, and parts of the East Coast. Our vast database is publicly available on our ShoreZone website.
SṈIDȻEȽ Restoration Project
In 2000, SeaChange restored 1800 eelgrass shoots in SṈIDȻEȽ (Tod Inlet, Gowlland-Tod Provincial Park) thanks to community and government support. That was just the start of over two decades of ecological and community restoration that began in this special area and extended throughout the Salish Sea. Today, we engage communities in the restoration of terrestrial native vegetation along shorelines, and eelgrass beds which are so vital to the entire coastal ecosystem.
We Value Your Support
Over the decades, members of the community have rolled up their sleeves and donated generously to help us fulfill our mission to understand, conserve, restore, and manage coastal ecosystems. Our mantra has always been: We get things done! We believe that small groups and individuals in the community are the real agents of change for a more protected coast, and with your help, we can expand our impact for the benefit of everyone. To learn more about how you can get involved, we invite you to contact us, donate today, or sign up for our newsletter by completing the form below.
Latest News
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NAME/CaNOE Fundraiser and Conference
Join us in making waves for coastal education! SeaChange Marine Conservation Society is partnering with the Northwest Aquatic and Marine Educators (NAME) and Canadian Network for Ocean Education (CaNOE) to fundraise for the 46th annual “Ripple Effect: Making Waves Together” Conference. In…
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2023 Annual General Meeting
Monday November 20, 7:00 – 9:00pm at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea and via ZOOM. Contact connect@seachangesociety.com for ZOOM link. Come celebrate our 25th anniversary and learn about what SeaChange accomplished in 2023 and what we have planned…
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Speaking Event with Nikki Wright
Marine Systems in the Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary A PRESENTATION ON THE ROLE OF NEARSHORE MARINE SYSTEMS FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF HEALTH, INCLUDING OURS, AND THE ROLE IT PLAYS AS A CARBON SINK. JACQUES SIROIS – Introduction A naturalist, birdwatcher…
