HB 2209 / Section 5 - OR Shellfish Task Force (2015) Identified the need for restoration and enhancement of shellfish populations as a component of the OR Shellfish Initiative (2) The task force shall develop and produce a draft OR Shellfish Initiative (c) Priorities for research and research funding (F) Assessing wild shellfish stocks, enhancing recreational harvest opportunities, and restoration of native shellfish populations with a particular focus on opportunities to enhance and recover degraded shellfish populations, including but not limited to Olympia oysters
Restoration and Enhancement of Native Shellfish: Don Ivy, Chief, Coquille Tribal Council Steve Rumrill, Shellfish Program Leader, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Dick vander Schaaf, Coastal Conservation Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy
Olympia oyster Ostrea lurida Native from British Columbia to Baja California Historically extensive in Oregon estuaries Local extinction due to sedimentation & tsunami / 1700-1800s (Coos Bay), and overharvests / 1920-30s (Yaquina & Netarts Bays) Reintroduced from outside source / 1940-50s Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas Native from Russia, Japan, China Imported to North America from Japan / 1903 Cultured in Oregon estuaries 1910s - present Mariculture operations include bottom, stake, rack, and suspended culture Emerged as important global mariculture species
Geographic Distribution of Olympia Oysters (Ostrea lurida): Northern Limit / Gale Passage (British Columbia) Pacific Ocean Southern Limit / Bahia de San Quintin (Baja California) Distribution of Ostrea lurida
Historic Distribution of Olympia Oysters in Oregon Populations confirmed: Netarts Bay Yaquina Bay Coos Bay Netarts Bay Yaquina Bay Coos Bay Other larger bays / estuaries are suspected to have supported native oysters
Commercial Oystermen in Yaquina Bay (1890) from: Lincoln County Historical Society from: Pabco Oyster Pails, Portland, OR (1917)
Ecological Role of Olympia Oysters (Ostrea lurida) Habitat Development subtidal reefs, benthic complexity supporting eelgrass beds, ecosystem engineers Water Quality Management filter feeders capable of filtering 8-12 gallons/day/oyster reducing turbidity and algal blooms while maintaining nutrient balance Food Chain larvae and adults sought by many organisms
Netarts Bay Native Oyster Restoration Project Project Goal Restore a Self-sustaining Olympia Oyster Population* *to a level that provides ecosystem services
Spawning & Setting Olympia Oyster Spat Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery
Shellbag Placement in Upper Bay
One-year old planted olys Cluster of sameyear new recruits (likely)
Recovery of Olympia Oysters in Coos Bay
Alternative Methods for the Generation of Olympia Oyster Spat and Shell Cultch Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery Deploy Settlement Collector Bags
Recovery of Olympia Oysters in Coos Bay Current Distribution of Olympia oysters Enhancement Sites for Olympia oysters Coalbank Slough Isthmus Slough South Slough Long Island Point Restoration Site for Olympia oysters
Restoration and Enhancement of Native Olympia Oysters in Coos Bay and South Slough Participants: ODSL / South Slough NERR ODFW / Shellfish Program NOAA / Restoration Center Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery UO / Oregon Institute of Marine Biology
Coos Bay, Oregon: Proposed Olympia oyster restoration sites along the Millicoma shoreline near the mouth of Isthmus Slough Purple parcels indicate potential oyster restoration sites located along the urbanized waterfront of Coos Bay Olympia oyster Ostrea lurida Hatched black parcel indicates potential experimental oyster bed to evaluate geotextile panels as settlement and deployment substrata
Proposed Olympia Oyster Restoration Site: Mouth of Coalbank Slough, Coos Bay, Oregon
Proposed Olympia Oyster Restoration Site: Isthmus Slough, Coos Bay Boardwalk, Oregon
Enhancement of Red, Flat, and Pinto Abalone in Oregon Waters A. Red abalone Haliotis rufescens B. Flat abalone Haliotis walallensis C. Pinto abalone Haliotis kamtschatkana A B C
Abalone are Highly Prized by Sport Divers in Oregon Waters Landings: 95% Brookings / 4% Port Orford / 1% Charleston ODFW Regulations: sport permit required skin or scuba dive minimum size 8 limits: 1 per day / 5 per yr
Most abalone populations are in serious decline along the Pacific coast Common name Genus species ESA Status White abalone Haliotis sorenseni Endangered Black abalone Haliotis cracherodii Endangered Green abalone Haliotis fulgens Species of Concern Pink abalone Haliotis corrugata Species of Concern Pinto abalone Haliotis kamtschatkana Species of Concern Red abalone Haliotis rufescens ----- Flat abalone Haliotis walallensis -----
1967-68: ODFW / Shellfish Program outplanted juvenile and adult red abalone at Whale Cove, OR: Adult red abalone Whale Cove Red Abalone Outplants: 1967 / 5,000 juveniles 1968 / 275 adults Juvenile red abalone Source Population: Fort Bragg, CA
In the future, abalone enhancement activities could be focused on multiple sites along the southern Oregon coast: Cape Arago Nellies Cove Whaleshead Chetco Point other sites juvenile abalone in PVC tube Nellies Cove, Port Orford Chetco Point, Brookings
Regional Decline of Native Littleneck Clams (Leukoma staminea) in the Pacific Northwest Substantial declines in populations: Southeast Alaska British Columbia Puget Sound / Willapa Bay Oregon (Tillamook, Yaquina, Coos) Northern California (Humboldt, Bodega) Possible reasons for decline: mariculture of manila clams (competition & hybrids) harvest pressure (sea otters & humans) non-native species (oyster drills, green crab)
CLAM DENSITY #/m2 Local Decline in Densities of Native Littleneck Clams in Hobsonville Channel; Tillamook Bay, OR Densities of clams during 1984-1996 were about 30X greater than 2012 abundant rare 1975 1984 1985 1996 2012
General Recommendations Protection Restoration Sustainable harvest Stop intentional introduction of nonnative species Improve water quality Mitigate for ocean acidification
Specific Recommendations for the OR Shellfish Initiative: Restoration and Enhancement of Native Shellfish Conduct collaborative work to restore viable populations of native shellfish (i.e., Olympia oysters, Native Littleneck clams, Red abalone, Flat abalone, Pinto abalone) and protect the sites for sufficient time to allow the species to recover Continue to protect and conserve the 3 known populations of Olympia oysters in Oregon bays and estuaries Enhance Olympia oysters at multiple sites in Oregon to the extent that they support viable self-supporting populations: Netarts Bay Yaquina Bay Coos Bay Restoration Cost: estimated at $750,000 over 5 years (cost share among OR, NOAA Restoration Center) and work with partners including coastal Tribes, NGOs, community stakeholders
Specific Recommendations for the OR Shellfish Initiative: Restoration and Enhancement of Native Shellfish Explore the need and opportunities to enhance populations of red abalone, flat abalone, and pinto abalone at select sites in shallow rocky subtidal habitats along the Oregon coast: Cape Arago Nellies Cove Whaleshead Chetco Point Explore the need and opportunities to enhance populations of native littleneck clams at appropriate sites within estuarine tideflats: Tillamook Bay Netarts Bay Yaquina Bay Coos Bay
Questions and Discussion: