What has SeaDoc Society been doing this year? The organization has just released a report of its major accomplishments in 2010 and 2011.

“SeaDoc looks for gaps in the science that are hindering efforts to restore our ecosystem and tries to fill them,” explains the document. “While some restoration or science projects can cost in the millions of dollars, we fund projects that are relatively small (most cost between $15,000 and $100,000) but which will have disproportionately large impact.”

Over the past two years SeaDoc has created a Salish Sea birds and mammals species list; studied eelgrass disease and pacific white-sided dolphin populations; compiled and analyzed over 70 years of killer whale stranding data; studied eagle predation of marine birds; improved a surgical procedure used to track western grebes; tracked wild and rehabilitated seal pups released to the ocean; written a status review for the tufted puffin to be considered as an endangered species; helped decrease scoter (a type of seaduck) hunting limits; hosted a rockfish recovery workshop and brought scientists together to discuss the needs of forage fish.

For specifics, read the report.