PORT TOWNSEND – Those aren’t scientists behind the microscopes, scribbling down observations at the Port Townsend Marine Science Center.

They’re volunteers, people who live in and around Port Townsend who just want to help.

They fill a niche, monitoring Hood Canal’s shorelines and gathering data that might otherwise be overlooked.

“It’s our way of allowing our community to get involved in biologic monitoring,” said Cinamon Moffett, Marine Science Center education director.

“We think of ourselves as little watchdogs.”

The Marine Science Center, now celebrating its 25th year in operation, is located on a pier off the beach at Fort Worden State Park.

A core of about 40 citizen volunteers, helped by hundreds of others who work sporadically, contribute data to programs that use the information in a variety of ways.