Bert Webber

Bert is professor emeritus at Western Washington University.  His particular interest is in the understanding and the management of large estuarine ecosystems.  Bert was part of the NOAA Mesa study that started in the late 1970’s to evaluate the threat of oil transport to marine resources of the Strait of Georgia and the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Puget Sound.  This study, mostly through the work of Curtis Ebbesmeyer, described an estuarine ecosystem that included much of the Puget Sound, the Strait of Georgia and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This work and the tendency of the State of Washington to creep the boundary of Puget Sound northward convinced Bert that an umbrella name that focused on the now Salish Sea estuarine ecosystem was warranted.

In 2002 Bert and his wife used the M/V Snow Goose to start a marine education program for middle school students that introduced the issues of water quality in Bellingham Bay. This ongoing program has provided an experiential introduction to Bellingham Bay estuarine science for almost 30,000 school kids.

Bert’s current interest in the Salish Sea Institute is to support the transboundary efforts to restore and protect the natural values of the Salish Sea and in particular the consider the role of a Stewardship Council.

PhD, University of British Columbia 1966
Post Doctoral Fellow, Hopkins Marine Station, Stanford University 1966-1968
Professor, Wake Forest University 1968 to 1970
Professor Huxley College of the Environment 1970 to present.