Good news for Oregon: a clearer picture of where mariculture can thrive
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A new spatial suitability assessment from The Nature Conservancy and Geo Horizons finds that "the future of mariculture will be bright along the Oregon coast..."
The assessment covers nearly 900,000 acres of Oregon's coastal ocean and estuarine waters, from Astoria to Brookings, and evaluates suitability for a range of local species–including Olympia oysters, blue mussels, purple sea urchin and abalone, giant kelp, bull kelp, and dulse–across multiple cultivation methods (tank culture, longline, sub-tidal, and on-bottom). It weighs both biophysical and social factors: available area, proximity to infrastructure, supply chain logistics, alignment with coastal planning goals, and compatibility with commercial fishing and recreational use.
A few standout findings for kelp and co-culture:- Port Orford ranked high on the list kelp cultivation potential in the coastal ocean zone;
- Bandon ranked highest for co-culture (kelp + shellfish), with Umpqua/Reedsport and Port Orford also ranking near the top in the coastal ocean zone;
- Coos Bay, Umpqua River, and Tillamook Bay stand out among estuaries suitable for co-culture of seaweed and shellfish.
Read the overview and full report, and connect with the Oregon Coastal Mariculture Collaborative to get involved.
@kendall_barbery The link to the report appears to be dead. I tried a link here, too, with the same result: https://www.nature.org/en-us/newsroom/oregon-mariculture-assessment/
Do you have a local contact that can send me the report? Thanks!