Our goal is to recover native species that have lost breeding populations, maintain genetic diversity, and research effects of changing seawater conditions.

In 2014, Puget Sound Restoration Fund (PSRF) began operating a conservation hatchery, called the Kenneth K. Chew Center for Shellfish Research and Restoration, in collaboration with NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center. The Center is dedicated to research and production of native shellfish and other Pacific Northwest living marine resources. Development of a conservation hatchery was identified as a high-level need in both phases of the Washington Shellfish Initiative, as guided by the National Shellfish Initiative, and as a recommendation of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Ocean Acidification, in the 2012 and 2017 reports (both found here). The facility, located at NOAA’s Manchester Research Station, is operated by PSRF through a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) with NOAA to collaboratively conduct and manage research and restoration activities. To learn more, download an overview of our work at the hatchery and an overview of our 2017-2019 biennial hatchery report to Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife.

CURRENT PROJECTS

COLLABORATION

At the Chew Center, collaboration is central to the meaningful research undertaken to advance PSRF’s restoration programs and improve our understanding of the Puget Sound marine ecosystem. Since opening, PSRF and partners have conducted research on Olympia oysters, pinto abalone, bull kelp, sea cucumbers, cockles, rock scallops, geoduck, and Pacific oysters. We use conservation aquaculture techniques to advance genetic research, improve culture practices, and study impacts of climate change. We have hosted and mentored 17 student interns, 9 graduate students, and 3 post-doctoral researchers. Please reach out to us if you are interested in collaborating! Through our production programs, we have supported additional research by providing larval and juvenile animals to partners throughout the United States. Our collaborators and partners include:

Academic partners: University of Washington, Western Washington University, Evergreen State College, University of Chicago, University of Rhode Island, Olympic College

Tribal partners: Suquamish Tribe, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Swinomish Indian Tribal Community, Skokomish Indian Tribe, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe and Nisqually Indian Tribe

Government agencies: NOAA, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Environmental Protection Agency, Washington State Department of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture/Natural Resources Conservation Service, Washington Department of Ecology including Washington Conservation Corps, Washington Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Advisory Council

Non-governmental Organizations & Industry Partners: Pacific Shellfish Institute, Port Townsend Marine Science Center, Pacific Northwest Research Labs, Seattle Aquarium, Pacific Hybreed

FUNDING. Beginning in 2017, the Washington State Legislature and Governor Inslee have provided $448,000 each biennium to help support PSRF’s shellfish conservation hatchery at the NOAA Fisheries Manchester Lab. The funding is administered by Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. Base level funding from the state, which covers approximately 50% of operating costs, makes it possible for PSRF to implement state priorities and culture oyster, abalone, kelp, and other species to support restoration, mitigation, and research. NOAA also provides support to meet overall facilities needs at Manchester. Many thanks to the Governor, the Legislature, the Marine Resources Advisory Council, and all those who have championed this funding request.  We are also thankful to The Benjamin and Margaret Hall Foundation for support for the Center.

PHOTOS & VIDEOS
LOOKING AHEAD

As we continue to build the Chew Center into a long-lasting hub of restoration and applied research focused on native shellfish, kelp and other living marine resources, we have identified the following ambitious set of projects, some of which are underway and others that have not yet begun. Please reach out if you are interested in collaborating on this work!

1. Conduct research to advance PSRF’s in-water Olympia oyster restoration practices
  • Explore alternative settlement substrates for Olympia oysters
  • Further quantify filtration rate of Olympia oysters
  • Explore genetic drift as potential driver of population genetic structure in Olympia oysters through:
    • Pair-mating lab experiments
    • Temporal characterization of genetic structure of Olympia oyster recruits at monitoring sites
2. Improve ability to produce diverse shellfish and kelp species reliably and consistently to achieve Tribal, State, stock rebuilding and ecosystem recovery goals
  • Improve post-settlement mortality in pinto abalone by:
    • Understanding microbiome dynamics
    • Optimizing settlement cues and stocking densities
    • Testing efficacy of probiotics
  • Genetics of hatchery-produced seed
    • Compare genetics of hatchery-produced Olympia oyster seed versus wild populations
    • Genetic makeup of hatchery-produced abalone at restoration sites
    • Population genetic structure of bull kelp
  • Resilience of hatchery-produced seed to ocean acidification
    • Can maternal exposure to low pH result in more resilient offspring for Olympia oysters and pinto abalone?
  • Develop pinto abalone sperm cryopreservation techniques
3. Research and culture cockles, sea cucumbers, and other native species for Tribes to increase access to traditional first foods and address declines in the availability of culturally important species.
  • Sustainable aquaculture of cockles
    • How to feasibly raise cockles in a hatchery?
    • What is the population genetic structure in cockles?
  • Develop techniques for sea cucumber aquaculture
    • Optimize juvenile grow-out techniques
    • Produce a hatchery manual for sea cucumber cultivation
  • Impacts of ocean acidification
    • Interactive effects of ocean acidification and temperature on basket cockles
  • Littleneck clam population decline
    • Impacts of climate change on littlenecks
  • Dungeness crab larvae
    • Monitor annual larval crab abundance in Clam Bay as part of larger scale Puget Sound monitoring effort
4. Build stronger hatchery research collaborations with academic and agency partners
  • Continue to collaborate with NOAA on a Navy-funded research project to measure the effect of kelp cultivation on seawater chemistry
5. Train the next generation of conservation and restoration scientists and practitioners
  • Establish an annual 2-week Restoration Aquaculture Training course with NOAA, UW, Pacific Hybreed, and other partners
  • Host an annual summer internship program to provide opportunities for Tribal and other underrepresented students
Support PSRF's Conservation Hatchery

Support PSRF's Conservation Hatchery

At our Conservation Hatchery, PSRF cultures Olympia oysters, pinto abalone, sea cucumbers and native kelp species to advance restoration efforts throughout Puget Sound and provide a hub for research. The hatchery is invaluable to PSRF and our mission. Please consider a donation to help support the hatchery and PSRF's work.


CONTACT     Ryan Crim, Hatchery Director | ryan@restorationfund.org