What We Do

Staff Experience

J. Anne Shaffer

I’m a senior marine scientist/marine ecologist with a career spanning passion for northeast Pacific nearshore ecosystem conservation and restoration. I lead a small and extremely talented team of staff and collaborators to identify and implement large, complex science and restoration initiatives addressing ecosystem services, conservation, and restoration of the nearshore Salish Sea. This science has led to groundbreaking advances in understanding of how nearshore ecosystems function, how to identify priority nearshore ecosystem functions for conservation and restoration, how the disruption of nearshore ecosystem functions can act as a barrier for watershed ecosystem restoration, how to design and implement landscape scale nearshore ecosystem restoration, and the synergistic nearshore ecosystem responses to landscape restoration actions, including large scale dam removals.

Memberships: Society of Conservation Biology, Society for Ecological Restoration, American Fisheries Society, American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO), Northwest Science Association, Estuarine Research Federation (ERF), Pacific Estuarine Research Society (PERS), Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS), Northwest Algal Symposia Society. Past co-president, Olympic Peninsula Chapter, Association for Women in ScienceProfessional developments

Mentor and researcher, Western Washington University Elwha Research Consortium (ERC) National Science Foundation REU Program
Associate Faculty, Peninsula College, current

Professional Advancement/Accomplishments/Awards (Recent)
NOAA/AFS Nancy Foster Award (Awarded 2020)
American Fisheries Science Conservation Organization of the Year (CWI Awarded 2019)
Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) Conservationist of the Year Award (CWI Awarded 2013, 2019)
Seattle Aquarium Conservation Research Science Award (Awarded 2019)
Environmental Law Institute (Science category): (Runner up 2017)

Select Publications

Shaffer, J.A., Oxborrow, B., Parks, D.S., Maucieri, D.G. and Michel. J. 2025. Linking Marine Ecosystem Response to Shoreline Armor Removal and Large Dam Removals in the Elwha River and Nearshore, Washington, USA. Journal of Coastal Research, 41(1), pp.1-15.

Shaffer, A., Gross, J., Black, M., Kalagher, A. and Juanes, F., 2023. Dynamics of juvenile salmon and forage fishes in nearshore kelp forests. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.

Shaffer, J.A., Parks, D., Campbell, K., Moragne, A., Hueske, B., Adams, P. and Bauman, J.M., 2023. Coastal beaver, Chinook, coho, chum salmon and trout response to nearshore changes resulting from diking and large-scale dam removals: synergistic ecosystem engineering and restoration in the coastal zone. Nature Conservation, 53, p.61.

Shaffer, A., D. Parks, J. Michel, K. Simonsen, K Campbell, B. Oxborrow, J. Hall, and J. Weslowski, 2021. Restoration of Coastal Beach Forming Ecosystem Processes through Shoreline Armoring Removal of a Former Mine Site Increases Our Understanding of Coastal Resiliency and Large Scale Landslides Along the Northeast Pacific Coastline. International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, pp.1-19.

Shaffer, J.A. 2021. Piscine Orthoreovirus (PRV) and ectoparasites of young of the year juvenile herring, Clupea pallasii, of the Salish Sea. The Osprey. International Journal of Salmon and Steelhead Conservation.pp.17-21. https://issuu.com/theosprey/docs/the_osprey_january_2021

Shaffer, J. A. S. Munsch, and J. Cordell. 2020 Kelp Forest Zooplankton, Forage Fishes, and Juvenile Salmonids of the Northeast Pacif.ic Nearshore. Marine and Coastal Fisheries 12:4–20.

Shaffer, J.A., D. Parks, E. Schoen, and D. Beauchamp 2019. Kelp, forage fish, and salmon. Ecopic, Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment. 17(5):258. https://rdcu.be/bFvTX

For more information see:Google scholar

Alexandra M. Ávila, PhD

PhD, Fisheries Science, Oregon State University, 2023
Graduate Certificate, Marine Resources Management, Oregon State University, 2018
MSc, Ecology, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador 2012
BA, Biology (Coastal Studies; Environmental Science & Policy), Hood College, 2008

I am a bilingual fisheries ecologist and marine conservation scientist whose work integrates field-based ecological research, population genetics, oceanographic modeling, policy analysis, and community engagement. My career spans academia, government, and nonprofit sectors, with a focus on nearshore ecosystem dynamics, fisheries management, and culturally grounded conservation strategies across the Pacific Northwest, the Galápagos Islands, and Amazonian Ecuador. I have collaborated extensively with Indigenous communities, fishers, resource managers, and policymakers to advance ecosystem resilience, equitable conservation, and science-informed decision making.

Membership: American Fisheries Society • Society for Conservation Biology • Estuarine Research Federation (ERF) • Pacific Estuarine Research Society (PERS) • Ecological Society of America • Northwest Science Association • Latin American marine and fisheries research networks • AAUS Scientific Diver

Professional Experience (Selected)

Nearshore Fish Biologist | Coastal Watershed Institute | Port Angeles, WA (2025–Present)

Lead research on Salish Sea nearshore fish and habitats; conduct field surveys; support grant development; share findings with Tribal and local partners.

Marine Scientist | NOAA Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary | Port Angeles, WA (2024–2025)

Conducted kelp and subtidal surveys; supported oceanographic monitoring and improved data standards through regional partnerships.

Coastal Resilience & Adaptation Fellow | Oregon Sea Grant | Corvallis, OR (2024)

Supported resilience-focused programs, youth engagement, and federal reporting.

Offshore Wind Energy Fellow | Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife / Oregon Sea Grant | Newport, OR (2023–2024)

Assessed ecological and community impacts of offshore wind; led bilingual outreach; contributed to regulatory comment development.

Principal Investigator | Oregon State University | Corvallis, OR (2015–2022)

Directed research on rockfish larval connectivity using genetics and oceanographic modeling; managed Nancy Foster Scholarship funding.

Additional Positions (Summary)

Research roles with NOAA (Okeanos Explorer), NESDIS, and the Office of National Marine Sanctuaries; environmental consulting in Amazonian Ecuador; fisheries and marine research in the Galápagos; wildlife and habitat monitoring with USFS and NPS; teaching roles with USFQ and OSU.

Selected Awards

Nancy Foster Scholarship (NOAA, 2015–2019)
CIMERS Graduate Fellowship (NOAA/OSU, 2021–2022)

Oregon Sea Grant People’s Choice Award (2021)

Ali Award in Fisheries Biology (OSU)

Multiple graduate research and travel awards

Rufford Small Grant (2011)

Prince Bernhard Scholarship (WWF, 2009)

Environmental Leadership Awards (2004–2006)

Selected Publications

Ávila, A.M. (2023). How Nearshore Currents Affect Larval Dispersal and Genetic Connectivity of China Rockfish (Sebastes nebulosus) Along Oregon and Washington. Western Groundfish Conference.
White, M.P., Kennedy, B.R.C., Amon, D., Messing, C., Ávila, A.M. (2020). Cruise Report: EX-17-11, Gulf of Mexico 2017 (ROV and Mapping). (ROV and Mapping). NOAA OER.
Ávila, A.M. (2019). Importance of Conserving Genetic Diversity in Fisheries Management. Rufford Small Grants Conference.
Ávila, A.M., Valle, C.A., & Troya, A.M. (2013). Genetic Diversity and Conservation of the Misty Grouper. Avances 5(1): 22–33.
Additional reports, outreach presentations, and book reviews in fisheries ecology, marine conservation, and science communication.

Additional Outreach & Service

STEM Spanish-language mentor (Oregon Coast STEM Hub) • Salmon Watch Instructor • NOAA/OSU outreach mentor • National Ocean Science Bowl judge • Youth STEM and robotics mentor • Community science outreach in Ecuador and the U.S.

What we do