About Us

Pacific Mammal Research (PacMam) is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to understanding more about marine mammal populations in the Salish Sea and passing on that knowledge through scientific publications and education.

Mission: To understand and protect harbor porpoises and harbor seals of the Salish Sea through innovative scientific research, engaging educational outreach, and hands-on learning opportunities.

Vision: We aim to provide information that is crucial to creating biologically meaningful conservation measures for marine mammals of the Salish Sea, and build a community that is engaged in protecting the marine world they depend on.

Our research is conducted on the traditional lands of the Samish Indian Nation people past and present. We honor and give gratitude to the land itself, and to the Samish Tribe.

Our work and programs may occur outside of this region and we honor all Indigenous Peoples to include S'Klallam, Coast Salish, Lummi, Tulalip, Swinomish, Stillaguamish, Skagit, Lekwungen/Songhees, and Te'mexw. Learn more about the local tribes here and here.

Our Story

Founded in 2014, PacMam is one of only a handful of organizations worldwide conducting long-term non-invasive research and monitoring of harbor porpoise populations.

By studying marine mammals in their natural environment of the Salish Sea, we can improve our understanding of their life history, behavior, social structure and ecology within a dynamic and changing environment.

Using traditional and innovative scientific techniques, we provide information critical for conservation measures and create public awareness through education. Through ongoing research and education, PacMam provides high quality research data to the scientific community and creates an empowered constituency that can make informed decisions about the marine world they depend on.

Meet The Team

Cindy Elliser, Ph.D.

Founder & Research Director

Dr. Cindy R. Elliser received her B.S. (2000) and M.S. (2003) in Biological Sciences from Florida Atlantic University (FAU) and received her Ph.D. in Integrative Biology from FAU in 2010. For 10 years she worked with Dr. Herzing and the Wild Dolphin Project studying Atlantic spotted and bottlenose dolphins in the Bahamas. In 2014 Dr. Elliser moved to the Pacific Northwest and founded Pacific Mammal Research to study marine mammals in the Salish Sea, particularly harbor porpoises and harbor seals. She is the author of numerous papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals and has presented at international scientific conferences. Dr. Elliser is also Associate Director at the Salish Sea Institute, part of Western Washington University.

Katrina White, MRes

Co-Founder & Assistant Research Director

Following completion of her Bachelors of Science degree (with Honors) in Ecology & Conservation, Katrina MacIver went on to achieve a Masters of Research in Marine Mammal Research, both at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. She has extensive experience in field research and photo-identification techniques in the United States and abroad including the South Western Marine Research Program in Western Australia. Katrina moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2014 and joined Dr. Elliser in creating Pacific Mammal Research to study marine mammals of the Salish Sea. She has since been a co-author on several scientific papers and presented at international scientific conferences.

Ciera Edison, BSc

Research Assistant

Ciera received her Bachelors of Science degree from Oregon State University where she majored in Fisheries and Wildlife with a specialization in marine mammal conservation and ecology. After graduation, she became a Research Intern with PacMam and has continued to stay involved with the organization until she was recently able to return as Research Assistant. Ciera’s lifelong passion for marine mammals continues to drive her to research how humans impact the oceans and how she can better educate the public on this issue.

Board of Directors

Michelle Green. President.

Evan Barnett. Vice-President.

Brooke Casanova. Secretary.

Amy Eberling. Treasurer.

Kristine Stultz. Director.

Monica Bohnert. Director.

Bethany Augliere. Director.

Dr. Cindy Elliser. Ex-Officio Member.

Katrina MacIver. Honorary Advisor of Directors Emeritus.

Scientific Advisors

Dr. Denise Herzing. Research Director/Founder, The Wild Dolphin Project.

Dr. Julie Oswald. Senior Lecturer, University of St. Andrews.

Funding Supporters