Shellfish and Aquaculture

See all current research projects here.

Completed Projects

Akmajian, Adrianne, Principal Investigator

Researchers surveyed for algal toxins in fish species caught in tribal commercial fisheries to increase research and monitoring capacity within the Makah Tribe through expanding the Tribe’s capability to perform algal toxin analyses in-house.

Barber, Julie, Principal Investigator

Researchers created a model to determine the best place to install the first present-day clam garden in the U.S.

Becker, Bonnie, Principal Investigator

Researchers used seawater chemistry to trace larval exchanges between Olympia oyster populations.

Bogeberg, Molly, Principal Investigator

Researchers collaborated with shellfish growers as citizen scientists to study the functional role of shellfish aquaculture habitat as compared to natural habitat.

Carrington, Emily, Principal Investigator

This project expanded on ocean acidification and temperature research relating to local mussel species to test for causes of seasonal weakening of mussel attachment.

Cattolico, Rose Ann, Principal Investigator

Using a broad, integrated toolbox of techniques, researchers uncovered important information about Heterosigma’s behavior, life-history parameters, and metabolism. These findings can be used to build a testable model for predicting harmful algal blooms.

Chadsey, Meg, Principal Investigator

Researchers developed trainings and identified research and stakeholder needs to advance the practice of sustainable seaweed farming in the Pacific Northwest.

Cheney, Daniel, Principal Investigator

Researchers investigated the physical conditions and coastal-community views that determine ecological and social carrying capacity for shellfish aquaculture.

Cheney, Daniel, Principal Investigator

Supported by the NOAA Sea Grant Aquaculture Research Program, researchers assembled data from coastal communities and provided the most comprehensive economic picture yet of West Coast shellfish aquaculture.

Davis, Jonathan, Principal Investigator

Researchers used genetic approaches to develop broodstocks for the shellfish industry that are better adapted to increasingly corrosive seawater impacting our coasts and estuaries.

Dethier, Megan, Principal Investigator

Field studies and laboratory experiments probed the mystery of frequent extremely high juvenile mortality in ecologically and economically valuable clam species.

Dye, Paul, Principal Investigator

Washington Sea Grant, Oregon Sea Grant, and California Sea Grant formed a collaborative hub to promote sustainable aquaculture on the West Coast.

Friedman, Carolyn, Principal Investigator

As part of the Geoduck Aquaculture Research Program, researchers discovered previously unreported geoduck pathogens, seasonal and geographic factors influencing them, and molecular diagnostic tools to screen for disease.

Friedman, Carolyn, Principal Investigator

Washington Sea Grant research documented the effects on performance of later-life and transgenerational Pacific oysters due to early exposure to acidified waters, and assessed genetic factors for breeding acidification-tolerant lines.

Friedman, Carolyn, Principal Investigator

Examining five ecologically and economically important bivalves, researchers found these species exhibit different susceptibility to increasing CO2 levels. Under the conditions tested, clams were relative winners and oysters losers.

Friedman, Carolyn, Principal Investigator

Researchers developed early detection and diagnostic tools for emerging bivalve aquaculture diseases to improve emergency preparedness, rapid response and regulatory decision-making.

Friedman, Carolyn, Principal Investigator

Researchers assessed whether native eelgrass and Pacific oysters can synergistically enhance their environments.

Gallagher, Evan, Principal Investigator

This study clarified the mechanisms that underlie loss of smell in coho salmon and determines the effects of increased waterborne CO2 on olfactory and navigational functions, both of which are crucial to salmons’ ability to find their way back to their home streams to spawn.

Greengrove, Cheryl, Principal Investigator

Studies revealed that surface-sediment cyst mapping alone may not reveal the full risk of Alexandrium catenella blooms. Determining the share of cysts capable of germinating helps shellfish growers anticipate toxic blooms.

Grünbaum, Daniel, Principal Investigator

This project deployed a new imager network to collect and disseminate continuous, broad-scale data on harmful algal blooms to improve detection, monitoring, and mitigation processes.

Grünbaum, Daniel, Principal Investigator

Researchers created new imaging technology for monitoring harmful Alexandrium and Heterosigma algae, and developed a new model for predicting when and where Heterosigma will form HABs.

Hauser, Lorenz, Principal Investigator

Researchers used several experimental approaches to investigate rock scallop populations’ genetic differentiation, habitat adaptation, and resilience to acidification.

Hauser, Lorenz, Principal Investigator

Researchers addressed genetic risks of native shellfish aquaculture by developing genetic risk assessment tools and evaluating risk management strategies.

Hudson, Bobbi, Principal Investigator

Investigators examined rock scallops to help establish an approved, reliable assay for evaluating biotoxins and to improve growout methods for the purple hinged rock scallop.

Hudson, Bobbi, Principal Investigator

This research combined geospatial data and an examination of the social dimensions of shellfish aquaculture to ensure that it is fully integrated into coastal and marine spatial planning along the U.S. West Coast.

McDonald, P. Sean, Principal Investigator

Scientists examined the effects of changing water temperature on Dungeness crab, Washington’s most valuable harvest, and developed bioenergetic models to guide management strategies.

Rensel, Jack, Principal Investigator

Researchers improved and validated the first successful modeling tool for evaluating net-pen aquaculture siting and environmental effects.

Roberts, Steven, Principal Investigator

Researchers used shotgun proteomics to probe the causes of mysterious mass die-offs of oyster seed at hatcheries in Washington and Hawaii and assessed implications for culture diet, water chemistry and microbes.

Roberts, Steven, Principal Investigator

With funding from a national strategic initiative, researchers examined local adaptation in native Olympia oysters to help predict the impacts of culturing native shellfish species for restoration and commercial production.

Roberts, Steven, Principal Investigator

Researchers sought an alternative method to produce sterile shellfish by studying Pacific oysters’ germ cell line and testing methods to block its development.

Ruesink, Jennifer, Principal Investigator

This research documented environmental effects of geoduck aquaculture on eelgrass meadows and associated soft-sediment habitat as part of the Geoduck Aquaculture Research Program.

Ruesink, Jennifer, Principal Investigator

A larval sampling program enabled shellfish growers in Willapa Bay to examine Manila clam and oyster settlement and the impacts of climate-related warming on local bivalves.

Ryan, Clare, Principal Investigator

Researchers analyzed geoduck aquaculture policies and the associated stakeholder interests to answer concerns regarding the recent aquaculture expansion.

VanBlaricom, Glenn, Principal Investigator

This research found significant but transient effects from geoduck aquaculture on mobile marine animals and no significant effects on benthic communities.

VanBlaricom, Glenn, Principal Investigator

Sea Grant National Strategic Investment funds enabled university researchers to use traditional food-habit measuring techniques, chemical analyses, and energetic models to examine the effects of geoduck aquaculture operations on trophic relationships in Puget Sound.

VanBlaricom, Glenn, Principal Investigator

Researchers explored the ecosystem-level consequences of the recent geoduck aquaculture expansion with goals to improve the sustainability and successful management of operations in Puget Sound.

Young, Graham, Principal Investigator

Researchers explored new technologies to improve sablefish commercial fisheries.

Young, Graham, Principal Investigator

Researchers partnered with the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and others to find cost-effective ways to successfully raise sablefish, or “black cod,” for commercial-scale production.