Taylor Bruntil
2026 WCOA Fellow Blog
Hello! My name is Taylor Bruntil, and I am the WCOA Ocean Science Fellow at the Washington Department of Ecology. I grew up in Bellingham, WA, where I first developed my love for the ocean. I went on to earn my master’s degree from Cal Poly Humboldt, where I studied how biodiversity influences the early succession of marine invertebrate communities. After completing my graduate work, I returned to Washington and worked for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in a variety of salmon-related technician roles. Outside of work, I spend my time climbing, playing soccer, practicing yoga, or getting lost in a good book.
In my current fellowship, I am supporting the Department of Ecology in the early stages of developing a Washington Ocean Research Agenda. This effort builds upon the Washington Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) and is intended to strengthen the scientific foundation used to evaluate ocean use proposals off the Washington coast. The goal of the research agenda is to help identify the science priorities of Tribes and agencies in Washington State, ultimately improving our collective understanding of marine ecosystems and, in turn, resource management.
So far, much of my work has focused on getting up to speed on the project and building relationships with people who we hope will take part in the agenda. A significant part of my learning in this role has involved diving into the MSP and reviewing similar scientific prioritization efforts from across the United States, particularly along the West Coast. I have also been conducting interviews with biologists, policy specialists, and research scientists to better understand how the agenda can be structured and implemented in a way that is both useful and actionable.
I have connected with staff from Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Washington Department of Natural Resources. These conversations have been, in part, to ensure agencies are aware that this project is on the horizon, as well as to gather feedback and advice from experts on how the agenda should function. We are currently planning a larger meeting in September to further refine priorities and next steps.
Having grown up in Washington, it is especially meaningful to contribute to work that supports a better understanding of our state’s coastal and ocean ecosystems. I am excited to continue learning from others involved in this work and helping move this effort forward. I hope this project will ultimately lead to more informed decisions and stronger stewardship of Washington’s marine environments.
