2023
Halibut Length at Age
Jerriq Johnson investigated the length at age of halibut landed by the Makah commercial fleet to see if their growth rates have been declining like is happening to halibut in other areas. He also investigated the role of PDO in this change in growth. Mentored by Liz Allyn.
2023
Salmon Hooking Injuries
William Tyler tested whether larger (6/0) or smaller (1/0) hooks are more likely to hook salmon in areas of the body associated with high mortality rates during recreational fishing activity. Mentored by Jonathan Scordino.
2023
Olive Snail Scarring Rates
Tanisha Engram used olive shells gathered from community members and MFM during olive snail surveys to document scarring rates over time and investigate possible causes of shell damage. Mentored by Jonathan Scordino and Ryan Walsh.
2023
Ghost Nets on the Makah Reservation
TeJae Buckingham surveyed the Tsoo-Yess and Wa’atch Rivers to record the locations of ghost nets and compare their prevalence between rivers. Mentored by Jonathan Scordino and Ryan Walsh.
2022
Comparing Green Crab Measurement Techniques
Nelson Bowechop compared two techniques for measuring invasive European green crabs – including and excluding the marginal teeth – to see which one is easier and if he could develop a conversion factor between the two. Mentored by Jonathan Scordino and Adrianne Akmajian.
2022
Artificial Seal Haulouts in South Puget Sound
Azasha-Mya Greene researched artificial harbor seal haulouts, such as log booms, marinas, and aquaculture floats, to see if their total area has changed since 1990 using Google Earth. Mentored by Liz Allyn and Jonathan Scordino.
2022
Olive Snail Size Distribution
Aunjraya Roberts investigated the size distribution of olive snails on Hobuck beach. Previous studies in Coos Bay found that snails organized themselves by size, with the largest further from the water and the smallest closer to the water. She wanted to see if this pattern could be found on Hobuck as well. Mentored by Jonathan Scordino, Liz Allyn, and Adrianne Akmajian.
2022
Does Lure Size Matter?
Seactis Woodruff compared the size of salmon caught on large and small lures when fishing recreationally to try to catch the most legal-size salmon and limit hooking injuries on smaller fish. Mentored by Jonathan Scordino and Liz Allyn.
2021
Where are the Crayfish?
Ryana Moss investigated the distribution of crayfish on the Makah reservation. This project was inspired by findings from a study of river otter diet on the reservation by Bobbie Buzzell which found crayfish remains in their scat, but no live crayfish in traps set in the adjacent waterways. Mentored by Jonathan Scordino and Liz Allyn.
2021
Length-Weight Relationships of Chinook and Coho Salmon in Neah Bay
Shilaily Woodruff developed a length-weight relationship for salmon landed in Neah Bay by sampling fisher’s catch. Mentored by Jonathan Scordino, Liz Allyn, and Zac Espinosa.
2021
Testing Crab Marking Methods
Ethan Gonzales tested different methods for marking the carapaces of Dungeness crab and Invasive European Green crab. This project helped inform later mark-recapture studies on these crabs meant to document population size and movement between two river systems that drain into Makah Bay. Mentored by Adrianne Akmajian, Jonathan Scordino, and Liz Allyn.
2019
What is the Best Bait for a čibu·d?
Kaeden Butterfield compared catch rates for halibut on the čibu·d using four different bait types. Mentored by Jonathan Scordino and Liz Allyn.
2019
Eelgrass Effects on Diversity
Angelina Woods investigated the species diversity and richness in habitats with eelgrass and without. Mentored by Jonathan Scordino, Liz Allyn, and Matt Damiano.
2019
Harbor Porpoise Distribution in the Makah U&A
Laney Keyes analyzed harbor porpoise distribution in the nearshore waters of the Makah Usual and Accustomed waters using opportunistic data collected on regular boat surveys of the area from 2008-2018. Mentored by Jonathan Scordino, Liz Allyn, and Nicolas Pfeffer-Taggart.
2019
Skunk Habitat Characteristics
Toby Croy researched the habitat characteristics most likely to predict spotted skunk presence. Mentored by Shannon Murphie, Katie McLean, Jonathan Scordino, and Liz Allyn.
2019
River Otter Latrine Use
Ian Olson was an intern in the Wildlife department in 2019 and completed a project on river otter latrine use in the springs of 2018 and 2019 suing scat collections and camera footage. Mentored by Shannon Murphie.
2018
Evaluating Bait Types for Catching Green Crab
Isaac Jay Brunk evaluated the efficacy of different bait types used to trap invasive European green crabs on the Makah reservation. Mentored by Adrianne Akmajian.
2018
Whale Oil Extraction Methodologies
Fidel Ramos evaluated different methods for extracting whale oil from blubber. Mentored by Jonathan Scordino.
2018
Temporal Patterns in Sea Otter Foraging
Angelina Woods analyzed seasonal patterns in sea otter foraging behavior, including prey preference using data collected by Jessie Hale, a PhD student at the University of Washington. Mentored by Jessica Hale and Jonathan Scordino.
2018
Common Murre Deposition Rates
Charlotte Shaw calculated deposition rates for common murres on the beaches of the Makah Reservation using beached bird data collected by COASST volunteers. Mentored by Jonathan Scordino, Timothy Jones, Adrianne Akmajian, Julia Parrish, and Hilary Burgess.
2018
Invasive European Green Crab Trapping Efforts
Cole Svec was the green crab intern for the Marine Ecology program in 2018 and completed this poster to showcase their efforts to remove invasive European green crab from the reservation. Mentored by Adrianne Akmajian.
2017
Learning to Improve Halibut Fishing from Ancestors
Cole Svec put together a summary poster of the long-terms project evaluating the efficacy of the čibu·d and the potential to use it in commercial and recreational fisheries. A collaborative effort between many, including: Jonathan Scordino, Joe Petersen, Joshua Monette, Ian Stewart, Larry Buzzell, Maria Roberts, Joe Scordino, Reggie Buttram, and Alex Wise.
2014
MFM Internship Final Report 2014
In 2014, the internship only ran 4 weeks and focused on job shadowing. The interns wrote up a final report on their activities during the program.
2013
MFM Internship Final Report 2013
In 2013 the internship only ran 4 weeks and focused on job shadowing. The interns wrote up a final report on their activities during the program.
2012
Sea Lion Entanglement
Courtney Winck investigated California and Steller sea lion entanglement rates, seasonality, and entangling materials along the NW coast of Washington. Mentored by Jonathan Scordino and Adrianne Akmajian.
2011
Reducing Longline Bycatch Using the čibu·d
Larry Buzzell investigated the possibility to reduce bycatch in longline halibut fisheries using the traditional halibut hook, the čibu·d. Mentored by Jonathan Scordino.
2010
Deterring River Otters from the Sockeye Weir
Rikki Manuel developed a pilot project proposal to test methods of deterring river otters from the Makah sockeye weir.
2010
Active Beavers at the Makah National Hatchery
Doug Coleman characterized beaver use patterns in the serpentine channel at the Makah National Hatchery.
2009
An Economic Analysis of Spot Prawn Fishing
Shayla Nagel performed an economic cost-benefit analysis of spot prawn fishing for Makah fishers.
2009
Population Estimate for Olive Snails
Michael Murner calculated a population estimate for Olive snails found on the north end of Hobuck beach.
2009
Chinook Salmon Regional Return Odds
Evan Bowechop analyzed the probabilities that Chinook salmon is each fishing area off Neah Bay originate in different natal streams.
2009
An Economic Analysis of Spot Prawn Fishing
Shayla Nagel performed an economic cost-benefit analysis of spot prawn fishing for Makah fishers.
MFM Summer Internship Program 
