Chinook Rearing in Nearshore Sandy Habitats

On February 10th, 2022 Dr Jose R Marin Jarrin from the Humbolt State University Department of Fisheries Biology shared his experience and knowledge of nearshore sandy ecosystems as part of the Lower Nehalem Watershed Council’s speaker series. In 2013 he published a paper on the use of sandy beach environments as nurseries for juvenile Chinook salmon. Since then his research has spanned a wide variety of marine biology topics including a chapter in the 2022 book “Sandy Beaches as Endangered Ecosystems” titled “The Biology and Ecology of Sandy Beach Surf Zones.” His research on Chinook use of sandy beach environments explored what role that environment plays in their life history. His research sought to describe that use through field collections, otolith sampling, and comparison of growth between estuarine and sandy beach Chinook juveniles. This is a great story about both the process of science and an opportunity to learn more about what’s happening off shores very much like those here by the mouth of the Nehalem. Dr Jose Marin Jarrin earned his PhD in Fisheries Science at Oregon State University, with a Masters in Marine Biology from University of Oregon, and his Bachelors from the University of Guayaquil in Ecuador. Since 2008 he’s published at least 32 times on marine biology topics!