Spencer migrates like a surf scoter up and down the West Coast, through Alaska, British Columbia, and the Pacific Northwest. He’s often found knee-deep in the surf, pondering the organisms that live along the outer shores.

For the last decade, he’s been studying how these marine communities have changed over thousands of years, using ancient shell remains left by people at coastal village sites in BC and Alaska. These projects have given Spencer a unique perspective on the natural and cultural history of the West Coast (and sent him to some of its most beautiful beaches).

While not aboard Passing Cloud, Spencer also works for the Natural Capital Project, researching ways that societies benefit from healthy marine ecosystems, and partnering with people, governments, and corporations who use this information to make better decisions.