The Oyster Culture Foundation (OCF) is advancing a science-based, ecosystem-scale restoration strategy to improve water quality, strengthen coastal resilience, and expand equitable access to marine ecosystems in the San Francisco Bay. Through its Oyster Culture Bioremediation (OCB) initiative, which functions as a public utility service and wastewater and stormwater mitigation strategy for water quality restoration in San Francisco Bay, OCF proposes the deployment of 14 million triploid Pacific oysters (Magallana gigas) across 1,300 acres of subtidal and intertidal habitat. Over the course of four years, this effort will enhance more than 30 miles of shoreline and reef structure, delivering significant environmental, social, and economic co-benefits.
Triploid oysters introduced through the OCB initiative are expected to function as nature-based infrastructure, providing essential ecosystem services including water filtration, shoreline stabilization, habitat provisioning, and pollutant buffering. These services contribute to regional climate adaptation goals and help safeguard coastal communities, particularly those that have been historically underserved and disproportionately affected by environmental degradation.
In alignment with best practices for habitat restoration, the project prioritizes conditions that promote the recovery of the native Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida), a keystone species once abundant throughout the Bay. Due to historical overharvest, habitat loss, and water quality decline, Olympia oyster populations have reached critically low levels. By utilizing the filtration capacity of the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) as a functional complement, this project supports near-term ecological improvements while creating long-term habitat conditions that benefit native species.
OCF’s restoration efforts will directly contribute to improved estuarine health, enhanced biodiversity, and more resilient coastal systems. In parallel, the initiative seeks to support sustainable fisheries management and expand access to marine resources for Indigenous communities and other local stakeholders through collaborative stewardship and science-based planning. This project reflects an integrated approach to marine conservation, aligning ecosystem restoration with community resilience and environmental justice.