Education and Outreach

PIER research is published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and directly communicated to fisheries biologists through strong collaborative ties with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

In addition, PIER research and project updates are presented at several public venues all across southern California. The PIER team also engages younger audiences through presentations to K-12 schools in southern California.

As advocates of marine stewardship PIER established a partnership with the Oceanside SEA Center (OSC) to develop a diverse hub of marine-based education and recreation in Southern California. This synergistic collaboration focuses on promoting stewardship and an appreciation for the ocean and its resources, while addressing the overall lack of marine experiential learning and outreach opportunities available in Oceanside, California.

Oceanside Sea Center
Youth Programs

PIER moves to the Oceanside Harbor!

In 2018, PIER moved its operations to the Oceanside harbor to team up with the Oceanside SEA Center, with the goal of expanding recreational and educational opportunities to the local community. The newly renovated Oceanside SEA Center is located at 315 Harbor Dr. S. in Oceanside and provides daily sportfishing and whale watching trips as well as seasonal youth programs.

Visitors to the Oceanside Sea Center can view its 800 gallon saltwater aquarium stocked with local fish and invertebrates, learn from educational displays, and purchase everything needed to enjoy a day on the water or at the beach from bait and tackle to ice and snacks.

For information on the Oceanside SEA Center, and to view recent fish counts or make a reservation, visit https://www.oceansideseacenter.com/ or call at 760-450-0403.

Sea Star floating classrooms

Captain Joe Cacciola hosts outdoor learning experiences for student groups aboard the Sea Star in his “floating science classrooms”. These programs offer an alternative to the traditional classroom setting that engages students and contextualizes study material to inspire stewardship of their local marine environment. On classroom trips, students have the opportunity to observe local marine mammals and birds, sample aquatic organisms from an otter trawl net, and use instruments to better understand the marine environment.

Vamos a Pescar

In the summer of 2019, PIER and the Oceanside SEA Center teamed up to free instructional deep-sea fishing trips for Oceanside families. Passengers of all ages are guided by an experienced captain, crew and biologists for a fun-filled day on the water. Patrons learned how to cast, tie knots, and handle their catch.

Stay tuned for information on future free kids fishing opportunities!

Support This Project

Swordfish Studies

Main List

ecologist

instagram

follow us