Aquaculture on the West Coast
Aquaculture contributes to sustainable seafood, working waterfronts, and restoration and enhancement of marine species. NOAA has a multi-faceted role in aquaculture, from supporting science and research to federal policy-making and regulation.
NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region works closely with regional tribes; the states of Washington, Oregon, and California; the aquaculture industry; and non-governmental organizations, to improve and expand opportunities to grow marine products, such as fish, shellfish, and algae, locally. We also work with our partners to responsibly restore populations of native Olympia oysters, pinto abalone, and Pacific salmon.
Aquaculture can be used for many purposes:
- Commercial aquaculture is the propagation, or rearing, of aquatic organisms for commercial purposes, such as human consumption.
- Restoration aquaculture is generally used to increase numbers in populations at low levels.
- Enhancement aquaculture is used to increase numbers to support commercial or recreational harvest.
For more information on aquaculture in the West Coast Region, contact our Aquaculture Coordinators:
- Washington & Oregon: Dan Tonnes, Dan.Tonnes@noaa.gov
- California: Diane Windham, Diane.Windham@noaa.gov
About Aquaculture
- Commercial Shellfish Aquaculture
- Commercial Finfish Aquaculture
- Shellfish Enhancement & Restoration
- Finfish Enhancement & Restoration
- Science & Research
Partners
Our efforts to restore and sustain healthy populations of shellfish and finfish takes many partners. Our partners help foster sound science, advanced technology, engineering, and a multitude of effort to ensure that our seafood is sustainable, healthy, and contributing to the economic growth of our region. This list is not comprehensive, and we appreciate all who support advancing sustainable aquaculture.
Washington
- Washington Sea Grant, Sustainable Aquaculture
- NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center
- NOAA's Restoration Center
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Western Regional Aquaculture Center
- Environmental Protection Agency, Aquaculture
- Washington Department of Ecology
- Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
- Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
- Puget Sound Partnership
- Puget Sound Restoration Fund
- Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association
- The Nature Conservancy
Oregon
- Oregon Sea Grant, Sustainable Aquaculture
- NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center
- NOAA's Restoration Center
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Western Regional Aquaculture Center
- Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
- Tribes
- Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association
- Environmental Protection Agency, Aquaculture
- The Nature Conservancy
California
- California Sea Grant, Sustainable Aquaculture
- NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center
- NOAA's Restoration Center
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Western Regional Aquaculture Center
- California Department of Fish and Wildlife
- San Diego Oceans Foundation
- Tribes
- Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association
- Environmental Protection Agency, Aquaculture
- The Nature Conservancy
- Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- NOAA Seafood Inspection Program
- University of California at Davis, Bodega Marine Laboratory
- Scripps Institute of Oceanography (SCIO)
Resources
- Special Public Notice, Shellfish Aquaculture and 2017 Nationwide Permit 48
- Permits
- Funding Opportunities
- Washington Eelgrass and Shellfish Aquaculture Workshop Report (2017) (PDF, 64 pages)
- Northwest Association of Networked Ocean Observing Systems (NANOOS): Ocean observation, forecasts, data
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS): Coastal Aquaculture Planning Portal (CAPP)
- NOAA Office of Coastal Management: DigitalCoast Ocean Reports
Education & Outreach Resources
- Pinto Abalone Videos
- American Oyster, COSEE
- NOAA Aquaculture Research Story Map: Farming in Water
- NOAA Aquaculture Story Map: Coastal Aquaculture Siting and Sustainability
Shellfish Initiatives
- California Shellfish Initiative
- Oregon Shellfish Initiative
- Washington Shellfish Initiative
- National Shellfish Initiative
