About Us
Who We Are
The Oregon Coastal Mariculture Collaborative (OCMC) is a collaborative of Oregon-based organizations, brought together by a shared focus on restorative mariculture on the Oregon coast with support from shared funders. Our founding collaborative organizations are:
- Ecotrust
- Oregon Aquaculture Association (OAA)
- Oregon Kelp Alliance (ORKA)
- Oregon Sea Grant (ORSG)
- The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
What is restorative mariculture?
Mariculture is a type of aquaculture where marine shellfish and seaweeds are farmed for human uses. Restorative mariculture includes both commercial and subsistence mariculture activities that support or directly provide ecological benefits to the environment (Mizuta et al. 2022). For example, oyster farms are commercial businesses that grow oysters in Oregon’s estuaries. Oysters grown on farms provide human food, support local businesses, and directly improve water quality in the estuary. Restorative mariculture provides benefits to coastal communities, economies, and environments in Oregon!
What are we doing?
We are working together to support the mariculture industry and understand the potential to expand and diversify mariculture in Oregon. We are exploring novel, native shellfish and seaweed species for future cultivation. Our work supports pilot mariculture projects, market development and business support, spatial analysis for novel and native mariculture species, identification and evaluation of permitting barriers, learning from current and future practitioners, and sharing the opportunities of mariculture broadly.
Why is this work needed?
Oregon has an underdeveloped mariculture sector relative to its potential, despite having the natural resources to support a thriving industry along its 362-mile coastline. After initial inquiries, interest by prospective producers is quickly dampened because no viable policy and permitting framework exists for seaweed and shellfish (except for oysters), and there are many uncertainties regarding suitable locations, species, and cultivation methods.
How are we working together?
We meet virtually, with in-person meetings on a quarterly basis to align our efforts, share knowledge, and brainstorm ideas to overcome challenges. We embrace a “learn while doing” approach, with a guiding principle of listening, learning, and cultivating connections among interested partners. We are funded to do this work together from 2024 through the end of 2026, and are actively seeking funding to continue this work into the future.
We’d love to hear from you!
We are hoping to connect with Tribes, current and prospective growers, fishers, scientists, Indigenous stewards, educators, chefs and others who are interested in mariculture and its diverse products from the Oregon Coast. If that’s you, please consider filling out our contact form (est. 1-2 minutes to complete).