This project will support the formation of a Regional Oyster Restoration and Coordination Working Group to evaluate the feasibility of using different substrates and substrate preparations to restore oysters and enhance biodiversity throughout the whole of Puget Sound.
Efforts to rebuild native Olympia oyster populations in the Puget Sound have been ongoing for the last 25 years, yet they currently occupy only ~5% of their historic extent. The dominant substrate used for restoration is Pacific oyster shell, however, it has recently become a limited resource. Efforts to explore alternatives are stymied by a lack of knowledge, siloed research, and permissibility under current regulations.
In this project, researchers from the University of Washington and practitioners from the Puget Sound Restoration Fund will convene a Regional Oyster Restoration and Coordination Working Group to break down barriers and foster knowledge sharing and coordinate restoration efforts to improve biodiversity. The Working Group will bring together a cross-section of communities and organizations, including governmental, non-profit, academic, Tribal and more, to:
- discuss viable substrate options and inventory associated data;
- review permitting pathways and ways to reduce regulatory hurdles; and
- draft a decision-ready memo of recommendations for practitioners and regulators.
This project was funded in August 2026 as part of the 2026 Ocean Biodiversity Program Regional Engagement Grants.
