California Sea Grant College Program

Why does one native Olympia oyster restoration project succeed while a seemingly identical one fails? This project sought to answer the question by collecting recruitment, growth and survivorship statistics for oysters in Tomales Bay. Scientists also measured oyster predation by Atlantic oyster drills and are quantifying the effects of fouling organisms and “space competitors” (i.e., tunicates and sponges) on the availability of suitable oyster habitat. Findings are providing information on where and how to go about restoring oysters in California.