Population Health
November 2, 2016
Restoring oysters in Puget Sound
The nature of our local ecosystem changed when a combination of overharvesting, polluted waters, and shoreline changes led to the commercial extinction of the Olympia oyster from the Puget Sound.
Dr. Bonnie Becker, UW Tacoma associate professor of marine ecology, is leading undergraduate researchers in a collaborative effort to reintroduce the native oyster to its original environment. Her teams are monitoring microscopic larvae to identify sites where the oysters can naturally seed and be self-sustaining.
Reintroducing native oysters can provide an important habitat for others plants and animals, including salmon prey, and help restore the natural balance of Puget Sound for the health of our region.