RECENT ADVANCES IN RESEARCH AND RESTORATION OF THE OLYMPIA OYSTER, OSTREA LURIDA Carpenter 1864: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE SESSION
The Olympia oyster, Ostrea lurida (Carpenter 1864), is the only native oyster species on the west coast of the United States and Canada. Once an abundant estuarine organism, its historic range (Fig. 1) was from Baja, California, Mexico, to Sitka, Alaska; however, significant declines and, in some areas, near extirpation of the Olympia oyster have occurred throughout its range within the past two centuries. Overharvesting, pollution, sedimentation, urbanization of estuarine areas, predation by non-native species, and lack of sufficient attachment substrate (cultch material) have all led to the declines (Fig. 2).
In the last decade, restoration efforts and research and on this species have increased dramatically. To date, more than a million dollars has been invested in native oyster restoration projects in west coast states. Workshops have also been convened to discuss results of restoration projects, as well as scientific studies, and provide a forum for exchange of information among restoration practitioners, shellfish growers, and research scientists. The restoration projects have yielded many successes, and recent research is helping to inform and guide practical restoration considerations such as location of project sites, monitoring variables, timing for cultch distribution, genetic differences among possible seed source populations, and type of cultch material to use.
This presentation will include an overview of the history of the Olympia oyster in west coast states and a brief summary of the restoration and research that has been conducted, as a prelude to the other presentations in the session. The session presentations will cover various topics, including genetics and taxonomy of the species, data from a pristine Olympia oyster habitat in British Columbia, restoration results from some California and Washington state restoration projects, and the status of the species in British Columbia, Canada.
In the last decade, restoration efforts and research and on this species have increased dramatically. To date, more than a million dollars has been invested in native oyster restoration projects in west coast states. Workshops have also been convened to discuss results of restoration projects, as well as scientific studies, and provide a forum for exchange of information among restoration practitioners, shellfish growers, and research scientists. The restoration projects have yielded many successes, and recent research is helping to inform and guide practical restoration considerations such as location of project sites, monitoring variables, timing for cultch distribution, genetic differences among possible seed source populations, and type of cultch material to use.
This presentation will include an overview of the history of the Olympia oyster in west coast states and a brief summary of the restoration and research that has been conducted, as a prelude to the other presentations in the session. The session presentations will cover various topics, including genetics and taxonomy of the species, data from a pristine Olympia oyster habitat in British Columbia, restoration results from some California and Washington state restoration projects, and the status of the species in British Columbia, Canada.