What do oysters need to grow in the San Francisco Bay?

The intertidal zone is the area where the land and sea meet, fluctuating between being submerged during high tide and exposed during low tide. This dynamic environment creates distinct zones and specialized organisms that must adapt to both wet and dry conditions, as well as temperature and salinity changes. The Olympia oyster is native to the West Coast of the United States and serves as the target restoration species for Brisbane Shell Beach. Oyster beds are incredibly important for marine ecosystems and coastal communities due to their ability to filter water, provide crucial habitats, and stabilize shorelines. They act as natural water filters by removing pollutants, capturing excess nutrients, and improving water quality. Oyster beds also form reefs that offer shelter and food for a wide variety of fish, shellfish, and other marine life. Additionally, these reefs help protect coastlines from erosion by stabilizing sediments and acting as natural breakwaters. 


What Renew SF Bay aims to accomplish
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RSFB plans to establish sustainable Olympia oyster beds by identifying appropriate areas within OLU28 that provide conducive conditions for sustained growth of native oyster populations and identifying innovative, cost-effective spat capture and growing methods using adaptive nature-based solutions such as substrate constructs utilizing logs and sanitized shells in compostable bags.

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