Thursday May 4th, 2023, 6:30 PM
Pacific Maritime Heritage Center (333 SE Bay Blvd., Newport, OR)
View the recording here: https://youtu.be/R-XiEeZBr1M

On Thursday May 4th at 6:30 PM, the MidCoast Watersheds Council (MCWC) will be hosting a presentation about the history and status of Olympia oysters, the native oyster species of Yaquina Bay. Oysters are deeply intertwined with the history of the Oregon Coast, providing a rich food source, water filtration, and habitat for other animals with their hard reef structure.

This month, our presenter is Dr. George Waldbusser, ecology researcher at Oregon State University. His lab has been studying the effects of environmental changes, such as ocean acidification and temperature changes, on the growth and survival of Olympia oysters and other shellfish in Yaquina Bay. He will be joined by a graduate student to share the fascinating history of oysters and the trends in the ongoing research.

Some of their research sites overlap with recent tidal restoration work, including in Poole Slough.

Photo by Debbie Ross-Preston.