Using gliders to track low dissolved oxygen water in Dungeness crab habitat in partnership with Quinault Indian Nation

Autonomous underwater gliders operated by Oregon State University, OSU, in collaboration with the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, CRITFC, and funded by the Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems, NANOOS, are monitoring water quality along the central Washington shelf with guidance from the Quinault Indian Nation, QIN. The gliders collect high-resolution data on temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and other water properties, helping identify seasonal hypoxic zones. Data from these missions are visualized on the NANOOS Visualization System, supporting real-time decision-making for fisheries management. These insights allow resource managers to mitigate risks to Dungeness crab populations by identifying low oxygen conditions before they cause mass mortality in crab pots. The collaboration also includes community engagement, such as outreach to Quinault youth, connecting data science and traditional resource stewardship.