PSRF works to rebuild Olympia oyster populations and the structured habitat they provide in their developed and persistent assemblages. We focus our efforts on 19 priority waterbodies throughout Puget Sound identified in Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife’s (WDFW) updated Olympia oyster Stock Rebuilding Plan. Our work with partners on the ground and research conducted in the field and at our conservation hatchery broadly support WDFW’s Olympia oyster recovery efforts. We are also pleased to be active members of NOOC – the Native Olympia Oyster Collaborative.
Our goal is to re-establish self-sustaining native oyster beds to provide filtration and structured habitat for a diverse community of organisms.
10-year, 100-acre goal
The restoration methods we’ve developed and refined are yielding positive results like 10 acres of shell enhancement in Liberty Bay (right). By the end of 2019, we will have completed 84 acres of habitat enhancements in priority locations throughout Puget Sound. Restoration efforts are underway in many of the Sound’s remaining 19 priority areas with the participation of many tideland owners, continued interest of the press, and generous support from a throng of partners.

Port Gamble Bay Project
Our efforts to provide oyster settlement structure have been a success in Port Gamble Bay. Through this 6-year restoration project, funded by the Washington Department of Ecology, we enhanced settlement structure and produced 1.2 million oysters to build the stock of Olympia oysters throughout the Bay. Watch this video to learn more.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
RESEARCH
- A Variety of Approaches for Incorporating Community Outreach and Education in Oyster Reef Restoration Projects: Examples from the United States. DeAngelis et al., 2019. In: Smaal A., Ferreira J., Grant J., Petersen J., Strand Ø. (eds) Goods and Services of Marine Bivalves. Springer, Cham
- A guide to Olympia oyster restoration and conservation: Environmental conditions and sites that support sustainable populations. Wasson, K. et al., 2015.
WEBPAGES
- Native Olympia Oyster Collaborative (NOOC) webpage and storymap
- Northwest Straits Commission Olympia oyster restoration webpage
REPORTS
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Plan for Rebuilding Olympia Oyster (Ostrea lurida) Populations in Puget Sound with a Historical and Contemporary Overview. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2012
- Reestablishing Olympia oyster populations in Puget Sound, Washington. Washington Sea Grant, 2005
MEDIA
- Native oysters make comeback, thrive again in Puget Sound. United Press International, 2020.
- Northwest Oystermania. PBS, Mossback’s Northwest, 2020.
- Climate Change Was Killing Northwest Oysters. Growers and Scientists Fought Back. Bitterroot, 2019
- Olympia Oysters making a comeback in Disco Bay. Port Townsend Leader, 2019.
- The tiny but mighty Olympia oyster regains a foothold in Washington waters. The Seattle Times, Pacific NW Magazine, 2019
- Native Olympia oysters expected to gain a new foothold in Sinclair Inlet. Kitsap Sun, 2019
- Return of a native: Olympia oysters are making a comeback. Encyclopedia of Puget Sound, 2019
- 3 tons of oysters planted in Seattle’s Elliott Bay to clean water. King5, 2018
- Food, innovation and resilience in the face of climate change. The Seattle Times, Pacific NW Magazine, 2018
- The Decades Long Comeback of Mark Twain’s Favorite Food. Smithsonian Magazine, 2012
- A God amongst oysters. Edible Seattle, 2003
MISCELLANEOUS
- Olympia oyster biology and history handout. Swinomish Tribe, 2015
- Northwest Straits Olympia oyster restoration fact sheet. Northwest Straits, 2014
- Olympia oyster filtration time lapse video. Chloe Jenniches, 2014
- Olympia oyster field guide. PSRF, 2013
- Olympia oyster restoration in Puget Sound. PSRF, 2012
CONTACT Brian Allen, Olympia Oyster Restoration Program Director | brian@restorationfund.org