People of Puget Sound

Everyone has a role in protecting the Salish Sea is different. Meet some of incredible champions for the Salish Sea and discover where your own passion lies!

Transformative Educator and Biologist

Dr. Kenneth Chew

Ken is a national and international authority on the biology of shellfish and aquaculture (the planting, cultivating, and harvesting of shellfish for commerce). From the beginning, Ken’s approach was to go to shellfish growers and ask, “What is your problem? What do you need investigated?”

Sustainable Shellfish Businesswoman

aHI MARTIN-MCSWEENEY

Taylor Shellfish Farms traces its origins back five generations, to 1890. Ahi applied for the catering job at Taylor Shellfish Farms and got it. As it turned out, the shellfish business became not just a job but also a way of life, and a family.  

Sound Champion and Steward

Ralph munro

The Bainbridge Island Review said it with eloquent simplicity in a December 27, 2004, headline: “Orcas have a friend in Munro.” It would be difficult to find an individual who has done more to protect Puget Sound and its biological and cultural diversity than this Bainbridge Island native.

People of the Water

Sally Brownfield

Sally is one of the People of the Water, the Squaxin Island Tribe that has lives on and with the water for thousands of years. Daughter, mother, educator, food gatherer, weather, salmon fisher, oyster schucker, archaeological digger—her story is rich with experiences.

Beach Watcher

Kyle Petersen

15 year-old Kyle Petersen lives on a small farm near Sultan, Washington—forty miles from the nearest saltwater beach. As a trained volunteer for the Beach Watchers, Kyle is doing his part to protect Puget Sound from habitat destruction and damage to sea creatures.

Feeding refugees, protecting the sound

Tahmina Martelly

Through Resiliency Programs for World Relief Seattle, Tahmina has been organizing to depave unused parking lots, turning them into urban gardens for asylees, immigrants, and refugees in Seattle—diverting thousands of gallons of polluted storm runoff in the process.