| Abstract | The native oyster Ostrea conchaphila is the only oyster species native to the west coast of the United States. It was abundant in the bays and estuaries from Alaska to California. Coastal Indians consumed oysters that they could reach during low tides. White settlers began to harvest native oysters in the mid-1800s, and by the end of the century their numbers had decreased to levels too low for commercial harvesting. The west coast oyster industry depends on the introduced Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Seed for the Pacific oyster is produced in hatcheries, since the water temperature of most estuaries is too cold for natural reproduction. Oregon has four major estuaries: Tillamook Bay, Netarts Bay, Yaquina Bay, and Coos Bay. Pacific oysters are commercially grown at each estuary. Oregon has had a commercial oyster hatchery since 1975 located at Netarts Bay. Annual larval production is in the billions, with larvae being shipped to oyster growers from Alaska to Mexico. Tillamook Bay has six oyster growing companies with an annual production of 5,000 gallons; Netarts Bay has three companies with an annual production of 3,000 gallons; the one Yaquina Bay company produces 11,000 gallons annually; and Coos Bay, with four companies, has an annual production of 40,000 gallons. |
