In connection with the city of Des Moines, Highline’s Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST) has successfully begun preservation work to save marine wildlife living on the Des Moines Marina. By utilizing 30 individual divers, as well as a swarm of community volunteers, thousands of aquatic lives have been saved.

Spanning from August to December 2025, the MaST mission for these events was to do as much preservation and conservation work as possible. During their efforts, crews focused on piers L, M, & N at the marina.

Rus Higley, MaST Director, shared his thoughts on the process of clearing the piers of the animals. According to Higley, their work at the marina is right in line with larger institutions, such as the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Around the state, the DNR has set one of their main priorities as removing old tires from the Puget Sound. 

This exciting process can include using drivers to pull out debris, but often involves volunteers yanking out foreign substances by hand. A main goal of this work includes the safe removal of any creatures living among the tires. The MaST marina work operates in the same fashion. 

Higley himself is no stranger to local clearing events. His experience reaches back to pre-COVID times, and his efforts have included areas from Vashon Island to Poverty Bay – truly underlining the scope and lasting necessity for events like this in our area. 

Unlike typical collection trips for the MaST, very few animals were scouted for a new home in the aquarium. However, the MaST team still had their work cut out for them in teaching willing volunteers how to remove wildlife safely. Higley and his team saw a total of 50 local helpers, and brought them up to task. 

From anemones to sea urchins, each creature required a delicate hand during removal. Speaking to specific challenges, Higley shared, “You could spend 10-15 minutes on one [animal].” Between all three dives, the MaST director estimates several thousand animals were rescued from the sides of piers and styrofoam. 

In reflection of the impact these clearing days have had, Higley described it as “significant,” clarifying how encouraging it was to see the community come together. Specifying that this event brought complete strangers in line for one common goal. 

Beyond this, the director shared how events like these are real, tangible opportunities for environmental action. Higley continued, “If you believe protecting your environment is important and you don’t do anything to do that…” 

Leaving the point in the air, he followed, “So having these ‘normal people’, these non-marine biology nerds really getting into it … and learning about the environment … it’s a special thing to be a part of.”