October 2024
REAP Climate Center in Alameda (one of our active shellmounds)
Happy Fall! 🍁 🍂
A Tribute to Indigenous Ecological Practices
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, we recognize the profound influence of the Indigenous peoples of the Bay Area, whose sustainable practices continue to inspire our work. For centuries, local tribes, such as the Ohlone and Coast Miwok, maintained a deep connection to the Bay, gathering oysters not only as a vital food source but also as a symbol of cultural heritage and community. Their traditional ecological knowledge, including the creation and maintenance of shellmounds, played a crucial role in managing the Bay’s marine resources, ensuring their abundance for future generations.
Today, Wild Oyster Project strives to reflect these time-honored practices by incorporating Indigenous techniques and values into our conservation efforts, particularly through the use of shellmounds, to restore oyster populations and enhance habitat resilience. By honoring these methods, we not only contribute to the ecological health of the Bay but also strengthen our connection to its rich cultural history. We are committed to fostering a sustainable and respectful legacy with the Bay's diverse ecosystems and indigenous history, now and into the future.
To learn more about National Native American Heritage month, please click the link here.
Shell-ebrate Oysters for Seafood Sustainability Month!
Written by: Kyley Fishman
Let's commit to purchasing and eating sustainable seafood, not only in October but all year round, in light of Seafood Sustainability Month! Sustainable seafood is a vital part of aquaculture that keeps the biodiversity and the waters of our ocean healthy and thriving. Amongst the many food options the waves provide us, oysters stand out as the pearl of sustainable ocean-friendly dining.
Not just beautiful and a delicacy, oysters are also powerhouses of the sea. Our native Olympia oyster contributes to marine biodiversity and maintenance by acting as natural filters, each capable of cleaning five gallons of water daily. Sediment and nitrogen buildup are big problems in the waters of our Bay. Too much nitrogen and sediment buildup can increase algae growth, reducing oxygen levels. Oysters feed on the nitrogen and filtered algae, leaving behind cleaner, clearer waters and a safer habitat for numerous marine critters.
Oysters are especially sustainable as they can be farmed with minimal impact. Unlike livestock, which adds to pollution and deforestation, oyster farming is generally the opposite of all those things. There is no need to feed them, use fertilizers, or provide acres of land to grow, oysters are remarkably self-reliant.
Photo taken from the article “What’s the environmental impact of oyster farms?” by Juliana Merullo, Ashley Junger and Megan Hall (2022)
How do oysters benefit humans outside of being delicious? Well, not only are there ecological benefits but also economic benefits, especially in the Bay Area. Some such oyster farms are Hog Island Oyster Co., Starbird Mariculture, and Bodega Bay Oyster Farm, which are also on Wild Oyster Project’s Advisory Council. To check out others on our Advisory Council, click here.
There are jobs, tourism opportunities through oyster tastings and tours, and the continuing historical tradition of oyster enjoyment in California dating back to the Gold Rush in the 1850s thanks to the numerous oyster farms in the Bay Area.
Today, despite their numerous benefits to the environment and to people, oyster populations are sadly at historic lows. Wetland loss, excessive pollution, increased nitrogen levels, and erosion from development are major contributors. Unsustainable farming and overfishing have damaged reef structures and reduced populations, inducing a devastating loss in shellfish growth. Accompanied by this is a decline in water quality and habitat loss on all coasts, shorelines, and estuaries.
So, during Seafood Sustainability Month, and for the future, choose to eat sustainably! Learn more about where your seafood comes from through Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Guides, which you can access through this link. With every bite, you’re making a choice that benefits the planet—and your taste buds!
Don’t Plover Look Them: Oyster Shells to the Rescue
Written By: Kyley Fishman
Despite what it may seem, it does snow in the Bay Area! It takes the form of a small, white, fluffy endangered bird called the Snowy Plover.
Snowy Plovers are small shorebirds, about the size of your palm, known for their white plumage, black and brown markings, and fluffy feathers, and are often spotted scurrying across sandy shorelines. Yet, despite their cute and carefree nature, these birds are struggling for survival. Once numbering in the thousands, there are now less than 1,500 breeding plovers remaining along the California coastline.
One of the main reasons Snowy Plovers are endangered is due to habitat loss and predation. Since they cluster primarily on sandy beaches, they use small objects, such as oyster shells, to increase their camouflage, build nests, and lay their eggs. Yet, as development grows and beach visitors remove these items, habitats have become limited. This is where Wild Oyster Project comes in.
Collaborating with the SF Bay Bird Observatory, who is working on the largest wetland restoration project on the West Coast, Wild Oysters has made shell donations to the Salt Bay South Ponds Project to assist in the rehabilitation of its native species. Our most recent shell transfer was on September 20th of this year, where a dozen volunteers moved 2000 pounds of oyster shells to the wetlands.
You can also play a part in helping save the Snowy Plovers! If you visit beaches during their nesting season - March through September - keep an eye out for marked protected areas and give the birds plenty of space. Also, don’t take home shells and driftwood. They’re pretty and fun to collect, but if the terrain is scarce of these items, or it’s clear they’re being used for nesting purposes, leave them be. Most importantly, continue sustainable practices and participate in beach clean-ups to maintain a safe environment for all coastal critters.
Snowy Plovers and oysters are (literally) small reminders that all residents of the West Coastlines are interconnected and play a vital role in biodiversity and ecosystem health. By maintaining our shorelines, we can make sure the snowy plumage of these birds remains pearly white.
Special thank you to the volunteers who supported us in moving shells to the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project!