Program on the Environment

In 2022, the San Juan Islands were established as a region of concern in eelgrass population monitoring, with some sites experiencing near total habitat loss. At the same time, the region has become increasingly popular as a destination for recreational boaters. Friday Harbor Laboratories is currently exploring a connection between eelgrass declines and recreational boating, which can degrade habitat through physical disturbance, shading, and the release of toxic compounds. This study aimed to leverage data from Automatic Identification System (AIS), a maritime safety network, to quantify the potential impact of recreational boating on eelgrass habitat at six bays in the San Juan Islands. By conducting literature review, consulting experts, and developing R script, I translated AIS data into stressor metric variables characterizing recreational boating activity. Multi-Criteria Decision-Making (MCDM) framework allowed for assessment of the relative threat these variables pose on eelgrass habitat and produced final risk scores (0-100) across sites. Despite some limitations, I found that AIS data and MCDM framework were effective in developing a stressor metric methodology and transforming complex data into actionable insights. This study speaks to the value of comprehensive, accessible data in marine science and management. With further data validation and expansion, this methodology could inform critical conservation and regulation decisions to protect eelgrass and support the health of ecosystems in the San Juan Islands.