Our lead marine scientist, Jivan, talking about the Oyster Reef Balls (ORBs) with members of the Sierra Club at Herons Head Park.
Shell-O!
It's National Estuaries Week and we're releasing another great edition of the Wild Oyster Project's quarterly newsletter update.
Our lead marine scientist, Jivan, has been monitoring the oyster reefs at Heron's Head Park, and let's just say things are going swimmingly. He has noticed a lot of new oyster growth in just a year and we're also seeing many new species making these habitats their home! This speaks to the power of oysters and how they are industrious ecosystem engineers.
Happy National Estuaries Week!
Hear what Linda Hunter, our founder and director, has to say about estuaries and their importance to our ecosystem:
We should all celebrate these incredible places because they are the nurseries of the ocean! Estuaries are among the most productive places on the planet. Creating more organic material each year than the same footprint of forest or grassland. The sheltered waters of estuaries support unique plants and animals specially adapted for life at the margin of the sea. Thousands of species of birds, mammals, fish and other wildlife depend on estuarine habitats as places to live, feed and reproduce. Estuaries also provide ideal areas for migratory birds to rest and refuel during their long journeys.
Our own estuary, the San Francisco Bay, and the interconnected Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta form the largest estuary on the Pacific West Coast. Unlike most estuaries, which typically spread out into a wide delta of connected channels where creeks and rivers meet the ocean, the delta of the San Francisco Estuary is located more than 60 miles inland, trapped behind coastal ridges when rising seas flooded the Bay 10,000 years ago.
Our one-of-a-kind estuary is shaped by water flows from two directions. Ocean water flows in through the Golden Gate at its western end and, miles inland, fresh water from the Central Valley and the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers converge at the Delta on its way to the sea. This churning together of seawater and freshwater from the Delta creates a wild mixture of salty and brackish water.
Along the way, the tidal waters flow past large cities, industrial shorelines, suburban communities, marshes, wetlands, and rural farmland. Reflecting this diversity, San Francisco Bay’s watershed includes the largest urban saltwater lake in the United States, Oakland’s Lake Merritt, and the largest contiguous brackish marsh on the West Coast, Suisun Marsh.
Many different habitat types are found in and around estuaries, including shallow open waters, fresh and saltwater marshes, swamps, sandy beaches, mud and sand flats, rocky shores, oyster reefs, river deltas, tidal pools and beds of kelp and seagrass.
San Francisco Bay also contains 90 percent of California’s coastal wetlands, and its upper watershed drains 40 percent of California’s landmass (including runoff from the Sierra Nevada and the Coastal Range). The estuarine environment supports more than 130 species of fish, 500 species of wildlife, millions of native and migratory birds, and other plant and animal species.
Because our Bay is so special and life-giving, San Francisco Bay was named a Hope Spot in 2019 by Dr. Sylvia Earle’s organization, Mission Blue. Read what Dr. Earle, or 'Her Deepness,' has to say about the San Francisco Bay estuary:
"Since the 1960s, billions of dollars and many volunteer hours have been invested to restore the Bay’s ecological health. These efforts have started to pay off: Water quality has greatly improved, watersheds are healthier, tidal wetland restoration is underway, and many marine animals are returning to the Bay.
We are right at that critical moment when we know enough and care enough that we might save ourselves by saving nature and our wild ocean.
The establishment of the San Francisco Bay Hope Spot aims to inspire a cohesive, integrated plan for ocean and marine life conservation. With the Bay Area’s conservation-minded populace and dedicated educational institutions, the framework is already in place to establish a cohesive plan to preserve the health of the Bay’s unique marine ecosystem for generations to come."
Dr. Sylvia Earle
There’s something in the water. Did you know October is Sharktober in the Bay? Along with our more common resident species, such as Leopard Sharks and Bat Rays (which we've previously covered on our weekly Instagram campaign - #RewildingWednesday) October is also the time when we can witness one of the most incredible ocean creatures on the planet: the Great White Shark.
White sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) congregate along our coast from September to December. On average, females are larger than males, with adults reaching lengths upwards of 16 feet and weights of up to 5,000 pounds! Perhaps you've heard of the "Red Triangle," an area of high activity for white sharks located along the coast between Monterey Bay, Bodega Bay, and the Farallon Islands. Adult white sharks primarily feed on marine mammals, and the central coast of California boasts large populations of elephant seals, harbor seals, sea otters and sea lions. This is also why the Red Triangle is such a hot spot during this time of year, as it coincides with the Elephant Seal pupping season.
Last week, a whale-watching expedition was treated to a sight rarely seen by humans, two white sharks attacking and eating an elephant seal. The Oceanic Society caught some amazing pictures and video footage of the encounter that can be seen below:
While it may be alarming to consider the presence of white sharks swimming off the coast, envision something the size and weight of a shipping container gracefully gliding through the waters at 16 mph. They rarely venture into the Bay itself, and the likelihood of encountering one is exceedingly remote. By winter, these sharks travel the coast and journey to a remote region in the middle of the Pacific known as the "White Shark Cafe." In fact, the greater numbers of sharks we observe indicate an overall improvement in the health of the ocean ecosystem, as it provides the abundant food necessary for these sharks.
While we’ve glorified the more terrifying aspects of white sharks in works such as the modern classic “Jaws”, for better or worse, it is safe to say humans have been fascinated by these animals and their association with the fathomless depths of the deep sea.
When we talk about the shallow subtidal habitats of Olympia Oysters, we can feel pretty far removed from the drama and scale of the open ocean. The flash of a dark dorsal fin reflecting the sun’s rays as it breaks the surface helps to remind us it is one big ocean and we are all connected to it.
If you like fun facts about local species, make sure to follow Wild Oyster Project on Instagram @thewildoysterproject and catch our weekly posts for #RewildingWednesday, where we spotlight a different local species every Wednesday!
If you, like us, think sharks are jawesome check out the great work of Shark Stewards (sharkstewards.org) and the importance of shark conservation.
Meet Giulio – A passionate advocate for our work and a valuable member of our team! Giulio hails from rural Vermont where the landscape there helped to foster his deep-rooted environmental values. He is always eager to help out and give back to the community through the stewardship of our mission. And if you ever want to bond with him, just bring up Phish Food – his all-time favorite Ben & Jerry’s flavor!
Linda Hunter, our founder and director, asked him a few questions about his experience with us, and here is what Giulio had to say:
Linda: First of all Thank You for being such a stellar volunteer for the Wild Oyster Project. Why did you decide to volunteer?
Giulio: I was looking for a way to be the change I wanted to see in the world. Wild Oyster Project's unique blend of conservationism and eco-utilitarianism resonated with my vision of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature, especially as our global population continues to grow.
Linda: What was your favorite event and why?
Giulio: I liked volunteering for community outreach at Heron’s Head Park. When people got really excited about our work, I could direct them to where to see our reefs in action.
Linda: Can oyster restoration save us from the effects of climate change?
Giulio: Yes, oysters are a keystone species that enable other species to grow so that an entire ecosystem can flourish above and below the shoreline to resist erosion.
Linda: What's your favorite oyster superpower?
Giulio: The fact that they filter sediment and pollution from the water. It’s like how you can never plant too many trees if you want clean air; you can never seed too many oysters for clean water. They are one of nature’s sponges/filters for our estuaries and coastlines.
Linda: What's the coolest thing you've found/seen in the Bay or on the shoreline?
Giulio: The oyster reefs are definitely up there. They immediately reminded me of eco-artwork. They have an ethos and aesthetic that reminds me of Jackie Brookner.
Linda: What's your favorite fact about SF Bay?
Giulio: I like the fact that the Bay is geologically made up of 3 bays/basins with additional subbays. Another one is that San Francisco has 8 watersheds, 5 of which flow into the bay. It really goes to show how hilly San Francisco is for a city that’s 7x7 miles.
Linda: What is your vision for the future of the Bay?
Giulio: I’m not sure how out there this may be, but I would like for people to be able to swim in the Bay. Not sure if the timeline is my kids or grandkids.
Mark your calendars!
We've got a couple of great events coming up in the next few months that you won't want to miss.
BaySpark 2023: Igniting Youth Action for Climate and Environmental Justice
On September 23 from 10am - 3pm, we will be showing up to table this event for youth climate action. We are looking forward to getting more young people excited about the power of oysters! The focus of the event is to empower young people to come together to make a difference in the fight against climate change and environmental injustice. We look forward to learning more from the Hunters Point Community about finding environmental solutions that are tied to environmental injustice
Eating for the Health of Our Oceans: A Fundraiser for Wild Oyster Project
On Nov 1 at 6pm Devil's Canyon Brewing and Patagonia Palo Alto are hosting an event where all proceeds benefit Wild Oyster Project. Barnacle Foods & Hog Island Oysters will be there to bring you a night of amazing food and community — all to help us restore wild oyster reefs in the SF Bay.
Buy ($10) tickets HERE. There is a limited number, so we recommend you purchase them soon!
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