Aquaculture Research and Development Program

Aquaculture Research and Development Program is sponsored by State of Oregon, Department of Agriculture. Supports research and development projects that advance aquaculture in Oregon.

Current Oregon Sea Grant Funded Research Projects | Oregon State University Browse publications from Sea Grant-funded projects using the Sea Grant Collection at the NOAA Central Library . Research results spanning various topics from all Sea Grant programs are also available. If you have difficulty finding a project or topic for Oregon Sea Grant-supported work, please contact us .

Oregon Sea Grant Biennial Research Projects (2026-28) Project Title: Increasing year-round productivity and harvest quality of Pacific dulse ( Devaleraea mollis ) at commercial farms along the Oregon coast using supplemental illumination Principal Investigator (PI) : Ford Evans (Oregon State University ((OSU)) Other Investigators : James Fox (OSU-Cascades), Kelsey Emard (OSU), Tom Calvanese (Oregon Kelp Alliance) Summary : Oregon has been identified as one of the top locations in North America where seaweed aquaculture could be both economically viable and socially acceptable.

But consistent year-round seaweed production in the Pacific Northwest is constrained by low sunlight, frequent cloud cover, and reduced day length during winter months. Pacific dulse ( Devaleraea mollis ), a native red macroalga with protein levels exceeding 20% dry weight, demonstrates rapid growth in land-based culture systems and has the potential to benefit coastal economies through sustainable aquaculture development.

This aquaculture-focused project aims to quantify the effects of supplemental light intensity, photoperiod, and spectral composition on cultured Pacific dulse seaweed productivity and protein content. These findings will inform a year-long commercial-scale on-farm trial comparing three treatments: (1) ambient sunlight only, (2) ambient sunlight plus overhead LED illumination, and (3) ambient sunlight plus submerged LED illumination.

Farm tours and demonstration sites will engage interested parties and industry representatives in the project.

Project Title: Regional Assessment and Etiology of Adult Salmon Enteritis: A Partnership-based Approach to Understanding Prespawn Mortality in Pacific Northwest Salmon PI : Corbin Schuster (Oregon State University) Other Investigators : Michael Kent (OSU), James Peterson (OSU/United States Geological Survey), Holly Arnold (OSU), Thomas Waltzek (Washington State University) Summary : Despite extensive restoration efforts, federally protected Chinook salmon populations continue to decline throughout the Pacific Northwest, with prespawn mortality rates approaching 90% in some watersheds.

This project addresses the critical conservation challenge of prespawn mortality in spring Chinook salmon by investigating an emerging intestinal condition: Adult Salmon Enteritis (ASE).

The research aims to: (1) identify the causative agent(s) of ASE through temperature-controlled transmission studies and molecular characterization in laboratory and field settings; (2) develop quantitative molecular tools for rapid ASE detection; (3) document ASE distribution across Oregon’s river systems; and (4) build a sustainable knowledge network integrating tribal fisheries specialists, subsistence fishermen, and recreational anglers alongside agency partners in Oregon’s Willamette and Deschutes River systems.

Outcomes will directly inform management decisions related to fish transport, hatchery release timing, and disease response protocols for these iconic fish.

Project Title: An ecological characterization of early life history of pink shrimp in Oregon coastal waters to improve management and local knowledge PI : Lorenzo Ciannelli (Oregon State University) Other Investigators : Kendall Smith (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), Leif Rasmuson (Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife ((ODFW)), Toby Auth (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association), Jennifer Fisher (OSU), Juan Gutierrez-Bravo (OSU) Summary : Oceanic pink shrimp ( Pandalus jordani ) supports the second largest single species fishery in Oregon by dollar value (~$24 million/year) and is a remarkable example of sustainable fisheries management.

In 2007, this was the first shrimp fishery in the world to be certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Improved understanding of larval pink shrimp biology in current ocean conditions will allow for increased sustainability, enabling Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to update their harvest control rules based on current conditions (sea level height etc.).

Leveraging samples collected from federal and state-funded cruises, genetic analysis will allow better identification of pink shrimp larval stages and comparisons of development in relation to oceanic conditions (temperature, water flow, and chemical parameters). Researchers will consult with the fishing community on pink shrimp distribution and abundance data.

Research results will feed into ODFW plan to update the pink shrimp fishery management plan in 2028.

Project Title: Quantifying the impacts of coastal sediment dynamics on Oregon’s kelp forests PI : Aaron Galloway (University of Oregon) Other Investigator : Curt Storlazzi (United States Geological Survey) Summary : Changes in land use and dredging of estuaries are affecting sediment transport along the Oregon Coast, but very little research has been conducted to characterize the sediment impacts in temperate kelp forests.

This study aims to a) characterize the sediment flux to nearshore rocky reefs; b) identify the relationship between sediment deposition and rocky reef community health; and c) inform the public, industry, and government, providing tools to make wise decisions about sediment effects on kelp ecosystems.

​ Instruments to measure sediment and water flow will be installed within kelp forests along the southern Oregon Coast between Coos Bay and the Coquille River, accompanied by SCUBA surveys of invertebrates and algae communities. At several sites, plots will be established for experimental additions of sediment, with parameters informed by field measurements and community surveys.

Finally, a lab experiment with juvenile bull kelp will quantify varying rates of sedimentation that cannot be assessed in the field. ​ Partners for this work include US Geological Survey, local tribal governments, conservation groups, and watershed associations.

Researchers will engage with decision-makers at the Port of Coos Bay and the Army Corps of Engineers regarding the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port expansion, and share results with state agencies tasked with water, land, and aquatic resource management, as well as with relevant commercial and recreational users.

Sensor development will engage coastal students and research results will be shared through local outreach venues such as the Charleston Marine Life Center.

Project Title: Eelgrass status, ecological interactions, and ecosystem services in southern Oregon PI : Lillian Aoki (University of Oregon) Other Investigators : Ryan Mueller (Oregon State University), Bo Yang (University of California, Santa Cruz), Alicia Helms (South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve ((SSNERR)), Jen Kirkland (SSNERR), Jaime Belanger (SSNERR) Summary : Eelgrass meadows are important coastal ecosystems that provide habitat for numerous species, filter water, sequester carbon, and stabilize shorelines.

Conservation of eelgrass ( Zostera marina ) meadows is a priority in Oregon, and accurate knowledge of eelgrass distribution is critical to scale up localized measurements of ecosystem processes and to understand the resilience of beds to stressors. But accurately mapping eelgrass beds is intensive work, and many maps are outdated and would benefit from new techniques and technology to streamline data collection.

This project will leverage advances in sensor technologies, molecular methods, and computational workflows to address data gaps and improve understanding of eelgrass dynamics, benefits, and services in Oregon. Researchers will use drones to map eelgrass extent and condition in lower Coos Bay and the Coquille River Estuary, to better characterize habitat quality, and to delineate ecological interactions that could drive declines.

Further, they will compare habitat quality with fish biodiversity measured via eDNA to assess habitat use and will synthesize new data with long-term monitoring datasets to assess temporal trends. ​Partners in this effort will be state agencies, Tribes, and local conservation groups.

In addition to updated maps of eelgrass habitat in southern Oregon, products will include a handbook detailing methodologies, a transferable mapping protocol, and visualizations suitable for public display and engagement.

Project Title: Operationalizing Resilience in Oregon’s Coastal Communities via OneWater Security PI : Meghna Babbar-Sebens (OSU) Other Investigators : Luhui Whitebear (OSU), Miranda Gray (OSU/Oregon Sea Grant), Ingrid Arocho (OSU) Summary : Coastal communities rely on coastal watersheds for their water supply and on small, aging public water infrastructure to access a variety of water services and support their blue economy.

Environmental change threatens the availability of and access to clean and safe water in many rural, disadvantaged, and Tribal communities in coastal Oregon, as well as the health of commercial, recreational, and Tribal fisheries, which are vital to the region's social, cultural, and economic well-being.

This proposed planning framework will use the One Water approach, treating all water as one interconnected, valuable system from the source to the tap – i.e., between watersheds, water supply, wastewater, and stormwater systems, along with the entities responsible for their management.

Co-developing place based, One Water–informed management strategies with Siletz River basin communities including the City of Siletz, Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Indians, and other rights holders will support integrated, circular water management and joint community initiatives.

Specifically, the project will develop and test a computational planning framework to simulate and generate plan alternatives of nature-based watershed solutions and water infrastructure improvements, ensuring water supply resilience from source to tap and over both the short term (5–10 years) and long term (20–50 years) planning horizons.

Project outcomes and evaluation will strengthen water-supply resilience of mid-coast Oregon communities to future environmental and community changes and results will serve as a template for other coastal communities facing similar challenges. Coastal Arts Support Grants (2023-24) This project will produce a large-format print, featuring the silhouette of a gray whale, the iconic residents of Oregon’s coastal waters.

The goal is to cultivate environmental literacy, including an understanding of traditional, Indigenous, and local knowledge, with a focus on coastal, coastal watershed, and marine ecosystems. It will be a “sister piece” to another recent print “Raised by the Shark” about growing up at the New Jersey shore.

Title: The Puffin Project: Engaging the public in coastal conservation through art and storytelling This project will develop a children’s book combining art, science, and storytelling to engage the public in coastal conservation in the PNW. This strongly aligns with Oregon Sea Grant’s (OSG) mission to spark discovery, understanding, and collaboration to foster inclusive and resilient coastal communities and ecosystems.

The storyline will follow Penny the Puffin as she journeys through the PNW coast in search of the perfect home. Title: Music and Art Audiences Focus on Healthy Coastal Ecosystems Through Art Inspired by Phish This project aims to engage the public and the international Phish music fanbase while advancing a broader understanding of Oregon’s coastal and marine issues through artwork by Oregon artist Brooke Nuckles.

Oregon Sea Grant will fund her time, supplies and travel expenses to create and exhibit two works of art inspired by the music of Phish and Oregon’s coastal ecosystems: “Waves,” an interactive, collaborative fiber art installation, and “Sacred Whale,” a silkscreen print. The works will be exhibited during the 2024 Phish Studies Conference at Oregon State University from May 17-19.

Title: Coastal Microstructures Unveiled: Transforming Oregon's Nature into 3D Art This project will use 3D printing to create accurate and visually compelling renditions of the microstructures in calcium carbonate from Oregon coast shells and crustaceans, facilitating broader access to and comprehension of nature's intricacies.

The scarcity of widely accessible, high-resolution images suitable for artistic and educational purposes underscores the importance of this initiative.

Title: Restoration and Regeneration: A Concept Album The goal of this project is to create music that draws inspiration from the Wasson Creek Watershed restoration project and help community members develop familiarity and empathy towards the watershed and the natural resources on Oregon’s south coast. The artist’s objectives are to: Create a concept album that simulates the emotional experience of habitat restoration through music.

Compose pieces of music that take a listener from deterioration to restoration, rejuvenation, and regeneration, interwoven with brief interviews and natural sounds from nature. Build curiosity and interest in the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve’s restoration project. Interpret the South Slough Reserve’s scientific data into emotive art.

Learn about restoration and research at the South Slough Reserve by visiting the restoration site, assisting staff with field work, analyzing data, and conducting interviews.

Mycelium will delve deeper into understanding microorganisms and draw parallels to the unseen people in our society, building upon the Artist at Sea residency in July 2022 when the artist embarked on a research vessel alongside 20 scientists, creating music based on their plankton research along the Newport Line for two weeks.

Sirintip plans to create a 60-minute interdisciplinary suite for 7 exceptional musicians (voice, woodwind, brass, strings, keys, bass, drums), complemented by captivating visual projections and dance.

Artists: Lisa Cox & Prashant Kakad Title: Dance Your Science Afterschool Workshops The goal of Dance Your Science (DYS) is to provide underserved teenagers the opportunity to explore green chemistry in a fun and interactive way that will encourage them to continue learning and studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) while fostering the concept that integrating art and science is a critical pathway to finding solutions to society’s biggest environmental problems.

Students will gain 1) a fun and interactive way of learning science, 2) a deeper understanding of the science and 3) a motor or visual memory of the science.

Title: Innovations in Fishing Gear: Telling Science Stories to the Public Through Visual Arts The goal of this project is to create two pieces of artwork highlighting the importance of collaboration between scientists and stakeholders in addressing environmental issues incorporating trade skills to create the visual elements.

The specific story is the collaboration of Hatfield Marine Science Center (HMSC) scientists and Foulweather Trawl to design nets that reduce bycatch using scientific research of fish behavior and life history and re-designing nets that can be used by existing commercial fishery equipment.

A sculpture and mural are planned for permanent display in the Gladys Valley Marine Studies Building and a companion sculpture will be displayed at the Pacific Maritime Heritage Center.

Oregon Sea Grant Program Development Projects (2024 & 2025) Impact of Anthropogenic Electromagnetic Fields on Elasmobranch Behavior Assessing the potential of red macroalgae Develarea mollis (Pacific dulse) as a functional food crop Integrating local students into gray whale and coastal ecology research in Port Orford PI: Leigh Torres, OSU, Oregon Sea Grant Establishing Foraminifera in the Oregon Coast Upwelling System as Indicator Species for Ocean Acidification (FORAMS OA) PI: Jennifer Fehrenbacher, OSU, College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences Bringing green crabs to market: Developing a new fishery to manage invasive green crabs along the Oregon Coast PI: Maria Farinacci, Southwestern Oregon Community College Co-PI: Shon Schooler, South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve Oregon Sea Grant 2024-26 Biennial Projects Note: The work below is recommended for funding and pending final approval by NOAA.

Co-Creating a Community Participatory Resilience Model for Oregon Coastal Hazards PI: Jenna Tilt, Oregon State University Other Investigators: Natasha Fox (Oregon Dept of Emergency Management / OSU), David Lewis (OSU), Felicia Olmeta-Schult (Sea Grant/OSU), Peter Ruggiero (OSU) Summary: This project will develop and implement strategies for equitable participation in knowledge co-production and hazard resilience among three Oregon communities (Tribal and Indigenous communities, 2SLGBTQ+ communities, and Latinx communities) in Tillamook County and Lincoln County.

Through community engaged research guided by sustained collaboration with 10 partner organizations and six Community Advisors (two Advisors each from each community of focus), the project aims to lower barriers and diminish critical equity gaps to inclusive hazard preparation and decision-making processes.

Our innovative methodology includes co-developing targeted community surveys, focus group workshops, and community-tailored hazard training events, designed to produce policy-relevant knowledge regarding how diverse underserved communities are impacted by, and plan, adapt, and respond to natural hazards.

By investigating how the three communities have built their own hazard awareness and preparedness strategies outside the purview of institutional structures and processes, we will demonstrate how these activities contribute to community resilience, identifying lessons and best practices that can be scaled up to other groups, other hazards, and other geographical areas.

These findings will be featured in a Community Participatory Resilience Guide for Oregon Coastal Hazards, to inform researchers and hazard planning practitioners on equitable and respectful communication, engagement, and relationship-building with underrepresented and marginalized groups in hazard prone coastal zones.

Each phase of the research was carefully designed to inform subsequent phases, while ensuring that the findings and recommendations of the work are guided at every step, by the objectives, desires, and experiences of the three key communities of focus.

Microplastics Science Optimizing Solutions (MP-SOS): Testing Strategies for Oregon PI: Elise Granek (Portland State University) Other Investigators: Susanne Brander (OSU), Tala Navab-Daneshmand (OSU) Multi-Species Species Distribution Mapping of Oregon Nearshore Rocky Reefs PI: Susan E.

Piacenza, Oregon State University Other Investigators: Leif Rasmuson (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), Aaron Berger (NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service) Summary : Knowledge of spatial dynamics of fish stocks is essential for sustainable management, and related multi-scale information is becoming increasingly important given growing interest in sustainable blue economy initiatives.

However, significant knowledge gaps exist for many marine species, and these gaps are extreme for nearshore rocky reef species because of difficulties with effectively monitoring this critical habitat using conventional survey gears.

Existing knowledge gaps can lead to inaccurate stock size estimates, misspecification of sustainable harvest levels, limit nearshore metrics in integrated ecosystem assessments, and blur potential solutions for overlapping interests in marine spatial planning.

This research aims to address these gaps by leveraging Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) drop video surveys that have been collected from rocky reefs across the Oregon coastal shelf since 2009. This data will be used to build species distribution models (SDMs) for a suite of groundfish species coupled with remotely-sensed environmental variables.

Individual SDMs (iSDM) will also be combined into a multi-species SDM to identify the breadth of critical rocky reef habitat for groundfish species assemblages.

Our primary research objectives are: (1) use existing drop video and environmental data to parameterize iSDMs and a multi-species SDM for rocky reef-associated groundfish in Oregon’s nearshore and continental shelf waters to predict distribution, density, and factors driving demographics; (2) validate SDMs using community-elicited local ecological knowledge and newly collected at sea video data; (3) develop a Marine Spatial Planning Simulation Tool to demonstrate utility and applications; and (4) provide guidance on how to incorporate multi-species SDM results into groundfish management and marine spatial planning.

The results will be used to improve individual species stock assessments, augment the California Current Integrated Ecosystem Assessment, guide protected area management, improve scientific nearshore survey design, and explore synergistic options for ocean resource use across local, regional, and national scales.

Addressing Overlap and Uncertainty in Assessment of a Critical Bycatch Species PI: Alexandra McInturf, Oregon State University Other Investigators: Taylor Chapple (OSU), Leif Rasmuson (Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife), Cindy Tribuzio (NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center), Ian Taylor (NOAA Northwest, Fisheries Science Center), Cheryl Barnes (OSU) Summary: The Pacific Coast stock (PCS) of Pacific Spiny dogfish (hereafter, “dogfish”; Squalus suckleyi) has been subjected to intense fishing pressure in both directed and bycatch fisheries.

As a result, in 2021 the PCS was initially estimated at 37% of unexploited biomass, below the target threshold of 40%. This value could result in precautionary management and lead to significant restrictions in many valuable fisheries that currently overlap with dogfish. However, it was later amended to 42% based on uncertainty in catchability.

Such uncertainty largely stems from potential mismatches between surveys (temporal/spatial distributions) and animal movements, which are largely unknown. Informing this mismatch was noted as a priority in the 2021 stock assessment. Better data on PCS distribution is needed to inform survey results, which are directly used in the stock assessments that determine management strategies for this species.

The goal of this project is therefore to provide movement data that will be used to inform estimates of catchability and the next PCS dogfish stock assessment.

Using electronic tags, we will produce the following outcomes, identified as knowledge gaps in the most recent PCS stock assessment: 1) Characterize seasonal horizontal and vertical movements of juvenile dogfish to identify availability to capture (catchability) in survey and fishing gear, and 2) model juvenile dogfish distribution and response to numerous environmental factors to determine extent, seasonality, and predictors of movements.

Our results will be directly disseminated via Council meetings and reports, such as at the Pacific Fishery Management Council, who requested movement data to inform next steps for managing this species.

Systems Mapping to Identify Broader Impacts of Harmful Algal Blooms for Oregon Communities PI: Tawnya Peterson (Oregon Health and Science University) Summary: Shellfish are vital to the culture and economy of coastal Oregon for recreational, subsistence, and commercial harvesting and tourism.

The shellfish industry is vulnerable to recreational and commercial closures from harmful algal blooms and biotoxins, hypoxia, acidification, and coastal pollution. The proposed work seeks to better understand vulnerabilities associated with harmful algal bloom impacts along the Oregon coast by taking a systems approach to identify gaps, threats and leverage points for change.

The project team (OHSU faculty member and students) will work collaboratively to build a transdisciplinary systems map to describe and communicate the scope and depth of the problem and to identify and connect interested parties. The goal is to produce information and tools to inform policies that bolster community resilience and mitigate threats to residents, particularly underserved communities by highlighting gaps and opportunities.

This work will result in a visual, socio-ecological model of HAB impacts on communities in Oregon and beyond.

Products will include a systems map documenting community and HAB impacts; a presentation (slides and recordings) describing the map for entry in the ‘Map the System’ challenge at PSU and for sharing with interested parties; a White Paper to share with Oregon state legislators; a peer-reviewed publication summarizing project findings; a public-facing presentation developed through the OMSI Science Communication Fellowship program; a project website, and a publicly shared presentation hosted in a web repository.

Results will be presented at Oregon’s State of the Coast conference. Parallel systems mapping projects will be carried out in academic coursework in the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health to link academic competencies and career development goals with the research. To what degree will Oregon coastal dunes mitigate the impact of a Cascadia tsunami?

PI: Meagan Wengrove, Oregon State University Other Investigators: Jonathan Allan (Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries) Summary: Our goal is to evaluate the protective role of dunes against tsunami.

It is anticipated that the work will help drive the need to produce more comprehensive coastwide tsunami inundation maps with better estimates of tsunami inundation in regions of the coast that are highly susceptible to bathometric or topographic change in the event of a tsunami.

To explore foredune evolution in the context of tsunami impact and community resiliency, we propose a research project that will explore: 1) Estimate the potential for coastal dunes to mitigate tsunami inundation of communities and infrastructure with varying dune characteristics (height, width, vegetation cover).

2) Quantify the potential change to the geomorphology of the Oregon coastal dunes in select communities along the Oregon coast with varying dune characteristics. 3) Identify populations and infrastructure within each community that are most vulnerable to the tsunami hazard in regions where modification of topography is significant.

Additionally, we propose the following engagement activities in collaboration with our partners: 1) Make results useful for future updates of the tsunami inundation maps in Oregon. 2) Create an accessible guide to communicate the influence that different Oregon coastal dune archetypes may have on tsunami inundation.

Key products include: 1) An infographic to aid managers in communicating the potential protective capacity (or not) of dunes in the case of various tsunami scenarios. 2) Preliminary maps that will demonstrate how tsunami inundation extent and topography could be changed by tsunami hazard scenarios.

3) A State of the Dunes Mini-Conference and Workshop where managers and scientists can come together, share progress on various projects (including this project) related to the Oregon coastal dunes and come up with actionable plans for future management and research priorities. 4) An outreach display at the Hatfield Marine Science Visitor Center communicating our results in an interactive way.

Oregon Sea Grant Program Development Projects (2023) Building capacity to assess human-use contaminant variability across estuarine Zostera marina (common eelgrass) communities to inform management strategies PI: Elise Granek, Portland State University Yelloweye Rockfish Species Distribution Modeling in Oregon Nearshore Rocky Reefs PI : Susan Piacenza, OSU, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Science Fog ecohydrology on the Oregon Coast: Testing and evaluation of a new micro-sensor array PI: Alex Dye, OSU, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society Oregon Sea Grant LEAF Competition 2022-2026 Looking beyond the dams: Inclusive decision processes and interdisciplinary science in the Klamath basin PI: Desiree Tullos, Oregon State University(OSU) Co-PIs: Bryan Tilt (OSU), Julie Alexander (OSU), James Peterson (OSU), Guillermo Giannico (OSU / Oregon Sea Grant) Summary: As the Klamath basin looks beyond dam removal, this project will contribute to new, place-based, and generalizable understanding on nutrient-food web–disease risk dynamics, as well as how decision models can be more inclusive of the diverse perspectives that exist in any river basin.

We propose the following objectives: Objective 1. Document traditional and western knowledge and experiences about the ecological and socio-cultural connections between water quality, the food web, and how coastal communities use the river in a system undergoing change. Objective 2.

Identify, apply and test strategies for extending decision processes to include ways of knowing not based in western science (i.e., traditional ecological knowledge) and apply them to examine the impacts of nutrient management on river uses. Objective 3. Deliver effective outreach and education.

The proposed project aims to generate collaborative, interdisciplinary, and experiential educational opportunities for OSU students and Tribal youth, and to disseminate results to local stakeholders, international scientists, and the general public through a variety of means.

Partnerships with the Yurok Tribe, an early career scientist, and scientists and local stakeholders as advisory board members are essential to guiding the project and generation of co-knowledge products. A strong engagement program will integrate listening sessions as coffee klatches, stakeholder workshops, and qualitative interviews with Tribal elders and a diverse set of stakeholders.

Ecological research will focus on integrating existing and new datasets, resulting in new analysis and models of how the primary producers that fuel the food web respond to nutrient changes during and following dam removal. Socio-cultural research will focus on documenting the values, decision processes, and conceptualizations of the river and its people.

Interdisciplinary research will integrate the ecological and socio-cultural research in a structured decision-making approach, resulting in new decision theory and tradeoff analyses that reflect diverse conceptualizations of the river and its management.

Biennial Projects: Oregon Sea Grant Omnibus Grant-Funded Projects (2022-24) Intensified co-culture of purple sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) and red seaweeds immobilized on mesh panels in land-based tanks in southern Oregon: providing ecological, economic, and cultural opportunities PI: Ford Evans, Oregon State University Other Investigators: Chris Langdon (OSU), Tom Calvanese (OSU), Jeffrey Griffin (Port of Bandon) Summary: Over-grazing by expanding populations of purple sea urchins has decimated many Oregon kelp beds, resulting in expansive “urchin barrens.

” Urchins sourced from barrens typically have poor gonad quality with low market value. Collecting low-value urchins from resource-poor environments and “fattening” them in land-based tanks to improve roe (gonad) quality and quantity is one strategy to regain market value. This project will examine the efficacy of two novel technologies applied to land-based sea urchin fattening.

The first will use of Pacific dulse as a nutritious food source to increase urchin gonad quantity/quality. The second is immobilization of seaweed fodder on panels to increase grazing surface area and urchin stocking density to maximize gonad production within culture tanks. Objectives of this two-year project are: Determine the nutritional value of cultured red seaweeds as fodder for purple urchins sourced from urchin barrens.

Determine if mesh panels can deliver fodder (seaweed) to urchins and provide grazing surface area to increase urchin stocking density in land-based tanks. Evaluate the economic feasibility and risk of scaled seaweed/ sea urchin co-culture. Improve aquaculture literacy among coastal community members, industry, and academia; illustrate how aquaculture can sustainably provide food from the sea, locally and globally.

Experiments will be conducted at partnering farms in Bandon and Port Orford, OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center, and OSU’s Port Orford Field Station. University, industry, tribal and community participation will strengthen ties among stakeholders interested in coastal economic development, extend relevant results to industry, and engage the public to increase aquaculture literacy and cultural awareness.

Deployment of innovative, cost-effective seaweed-urchin co-culture technologies, as proposed here, can also benefit coastal communities by increasing employment opportunities for urchin fishers through the harvest of otherwise unmarketable urchins and contribute to a resilient and diverse economy stemming from land-based aquaculture and feeding into seafood value chains embedded in coastal communities.

The Effects of EMFs on the Behavior of Marine Wildlife PI: Sarah Henkel, Oregon State University Other Investigators: Taylor Chapple (OSU), Kyle Newton (Washington University in St. Louis) Summary: The demand for marine renewable energy, which harnesses the kinetic energy of offshore wind, waves, tides or currents and converts it into electricity, is growing worldwide.

These installations transport the generated energy back to shore through high voltage cables (HVC), which can emit electromagnetic fields (EMF). Many marine species (e.g., sharks, rays, skates) detect bioelectric fields arising from the exchange of ions across the gills and the ventilatory movements of respiration to forage on prey, avoid predators, and locate conspecifics.

These and other marine species are hypothesized to also detect the Earth’s magnetic field for navigation. EMFs produced by HVCs are known to be within the detection ranges of elasmobranchs, but the impact of the emitted and induced fields of EMF on receptive species is largely unknown.

As the U.S. is on the cusp of significant investment in offshore wind and wave energy (OSU’s PacWave project and the commercial-scale Vineyard wind energy project received their FERC licenses in spring 2021), the need to understand the effects of EMFs on ecologically and economically important marine species is paramount.

This project will develop standardized behavioral protocols that will test how EMF-sensitive wildlife respond to the electrical and magnetic components of artificial EMF emissions and whether these stimuli disrupt natural behavior.

The project will use non-invasive laboratory-based behavioral experiments in Longnose skate and Dungeness crab to quantify their minimum sensory thresholds, detection ranges, and behavioral responses to EMFs from HVCs. This project will be the foundation for future longitudinal studies that quantify EMF responses over phylogeny, ontogeny and more importantly,