Tending the Tides: Stories of Mariculture on the Oregon Coast

In the season finale of Tending the Tides, the Ecotrust podcast team reflects on what they’ve learned, what questions remain, and where the future of Oregon’s mariculture industry might lead. The episode also features a handful of interviewees who offer fresh perspectives on the possibilities ahead. Thank you for joining us for Season 1 of Tending the Tides!Guests: Dick Vanderschaaf, Associate Coast and Marine Conservation Director at The Nature Conservancy in Oregon; Gil Sylvia, Marine Resource Economist and Professor Emeritus at Oregon State University; Julianna Ranches, Assistant Professor and Beef Extension Specialist at Oregon State University.Show Notes and CreditsTNC Mariculture Spatial AnalysisIf you'd like to engage with us, visit the Oregon Coastal Mariculture Collaborative website and consider joining the Oregon Mariculture Network.This episode was written by Tyson Rasor, Megan Foucht, Kaitlyn Rich and Suzie O’Neill. Edited by Emilie Chen. Produced by Jon Bonkoski and Emilie Chen. Music by Imagined Nostalgia, Boxwood Orchestra, and Our Many Stars. Illustrations by Tony Sterling and design by Heldáy de la Cruz. This podcast was made possible by our funders at Builders Vision Philanthropy; Builders Vision invests in and col­lab­o­rates with nonprof­its, busi­ness­es, and oth­ers work­ing towards sus­tain­able solu­tions to soci­etal and envi­ron­men­tal chal­lenges. This podcast is a production from Ecotrust, where we work in partnership at the intersection of equity, economy, and environment. Learn more at ecotrust.org. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ecotrust.substack.com

In this episode of Tending the Tides, Jon and Kaitlyn sit down with Cheryl Chen, CEO and co-founder of Salmon Returns, to explore the emerging world of stewardship credits and what they could mean for coastal communities. Cheryl redefines how we think about underwater infrastructure, reminds us that ecosystems need “preventative care” just like humans, and presents a vision for the Oregon coast where capital flows directly to the people stewarding our lands and waters.Guests: Cheryl Chen, CEO and Co-Founder of Salmon ReturnsShow Notes and CreditsTo learn more about stewardship credits, check out these resources:* The BioFi Project* Can 'Biodiversity Credits' Boost Conservation?* Biodiversity Credit Alliance* Regen RegistryYou can find Cheryl’s presentation from the Mariculture Future Forum here. To learn more about Salmon Returns, visit salmonreturns.com.This episode was hosted and written by Jon Bonkoski and Kaitlyn Rich. Edited by Suzie O’Neill, with production support from Megan Foucht, Emilie Chen, and Tyson Rasor. Music by Imagined Nostalgia, Boxwood Orchestra, and Our Many Stars. Illustrations by Tony Sterling and design by Heldáy de la Cruz. This podcast was made possible by our funders at Builders Vision Philanthropy; Builders Vision invests in and col­lab­o­rates with nonprof­its, busi­ness­es, and oth­ers work­ing towards sus­tain­able solu­tions to soci­etal and envi­ron­men­tal chal­lenges. Finally, this podcast is a production from Ecotrust, where we work in partnership at the intersection of equity, economy, and environment. Learn more at ecotrust.org This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ecotrust.substack.com

In this bonus episode of Tending the Tides, divers share what it’s really like to harvest purple sea urchins beneath the rough waves of the Oregon coast. Through conversations with Brad Bailey and Nate Jones, we learn about the physical intensity and technical skill behind this work—from battling powerful surge to spending hours tethered below the surface. Guests: Brad Bailey, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of OoNee Sea Urchin Ranch; Nate Jones, Chief Scientist with Oregon Seaweed and Commercial Urchin Diver at OoNee Sea Urchin Ranch.Show Notes & CreditsVisit oo-nee.com and oregonseaweed.com to learn more about Nate and Brad’s work. This episode was hosted by Tyson Rasor. Written by Emilie Chen and edited by Suzie O’Neill, with production support from Megan Foucht, Kaitlyn Rich, Tyson Rasor and Jon Bonkoski. Music by Imagined Nostalgia and Boxwood Orchestra. Illustrations by Tony Sterling and design by Heldáy de la Cruz. This podcast was made possible by our funders at Builders Vision Philanthropy; Builders Vision Philanthropy invests in and col­lab­o­rates with nonprof­its, busi­ness­es, and oth­ers work­ing towards sus­tain­able solu­tions to soci­etal and envi­ron­men­tal chal­lenges. Lastly, this podcast is a production from Ecotrust, where we work in partnership at the intersection of equity, economy, and environment. Learn more about Ecotrust at ecotrust.org. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ecotrust.substack.com

Welcome back for another episode of Tending the Tides: Stories of Mariculture on the Oregon Coast. In Episode 5, hosts Jon Bonkoski and Suzie O’Neill uncover the issues of sea urchin overpopulation and the disappearance of kelp forest along the Oregon coast, as well as what small businesses and research organizations are doing about it.Guests: Tom Calvanese, Director of the Oregon Kelp Alliance; Dr. Sara Hamilton, Science Coordinator at the Oregon Kelp Alliance; Brad Bailey, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of OoNee Sea Urchin Ranch; Aaron Huang, Co-founder and President of OoNee Sea Urchin Ranch; Nate Jones, Chief Scientist with Oregon Seaweed and Commercial Urchin Diver at OoNee Sea Urchin Ranch; Jeff Griffin, Strategic Director at the Port of Bandon.Show Notes & CreditsThis episode was hosted by Suzie O’Neill and Jon Bonkoski. Written by Tyson Rasor, Megan Foucht, and Jon Bonkoski. Edited by Tyson Rasor. Produced by Megan Foucht, Emilie Chen, and Kaitlyn Rich. Music by Imagined Nostalgia, Boxwood Orchestra, and Our Many Stars. Illustrations by Tony Sterling and design by Heldáy de la Cruz. This podcast was made possible by our funders at Builders Vision Philanthropy; Builders Vision invests in and col­lab­o­rates with nonprof­its, busi­ness­es, and oth­ers work­ing towards sus­tain­able solu­tions to soci­etal and envi­ron­men­tal chal­lenges. Finally, this podcast is a production from Ecotrust, where we work in partnership at the intersection of equity, economy, and environment. Learn more at ecotrust.org This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ecotrust.substack.com

In this episode of Tending the Tides, hosts Kaitlyn Rich and Emilie Chen dive into the vibrant world of seaweed—from Oregon’s rich kelp forests to the salty seaweed snacks of their childhoods. Through conversations with marine biologists, entrepreneurs, and Chef Strong from our previous episode, they uncover kelp’s vital role in sustaining marine ecosystems and buffering climate impacts. They also explore the growing movement to farm seaweed along the Oregon coast and reflect on the deep cultural connections that Tribes and immigrant communities in Oregon have long held with seaweeds and kelps.Guests: Sara Hamilton, Science Coordinator at the Oregon Kelp Alliance; Alanna Kieffer, marine biologist and owner of Shifting Tides; Chuck Toombs, Founder and CEO of Oregon Seaweed; Jason Busch, Founder and COO of Oregon Seaweed; Chef Jack Strong, Executive Chef at the Allison Inn and Spa; Aaron Huang, Founder of Oo-Nee Sea Ranch; Tom Calvanese, Director of the Oregon Kelp Alliance. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ecotrust.substack.com

In Episode 3 of Tending the Tides, hosts Kaitlyn Rich and Megan Foucht explore the history and significance of the Olympia oyster, the only native oyster on the West Coast. Through conversations with restoration practitioners, chefs, and others, Megan and Kaitlyn introduce you to the Olympia oyster, discuss current and past restoration efforts, and highlight why this little oyster is worth saving.Guests: Steve Rumrill, retired leader of the Shellfish Program at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; Chef Jack Strong, Executive Chef at the Allison Inn and Spa; Chef Maylin Chavez, owner of Nácar Oysters; Dick Vanderschaaf,  Associate Conservation Director for the Oceans and Coast Program within the Oregon chapter of The Nature Conservancy; Jed Bowers, owner of Haystack Shellfish Company; and Alanna Kieffer, Shifting Tides and Oregon Seaweed.Show Notes & CreditsThis episode was hosted by Megan Foucht and Kaitlyn Rich, edited by Suzie O’Neill, and written by Megan Foucht. Produced by Kaitlyn Rich, Jon Bonkoski, Tyson Rasor, and Emilie Chen. Music by Imagined Nostalgia, Boxwood Orchestra, and Our Many Stars. Illustrations by Tony Sterling and design by Heldáy de la Cruz. This podcast was made possible by our funders at the Builders Initiative; The Builders Ini­tia­tive invests in and col­lab­o­rates with nonprof­its, busi­ness­es, and oth­ers work­ing towards sus­tain­able solu­tions to soci­etal and envi­ron­men­tal chal­lenges. Finally, this podcast is a production of Ecotrust, where we work in partnership at the intersection of equity, economy, and environment. Learn more about Ecotrust at ecotrust.org. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ecotrust.substack.com

Winter is oyster season! In this bonus episode of Tending the Tides, Chef Maylin Chavez teaches us how to shuck an oyster. All you need is a shucking knife, a towel, and some Oregon oysters, and Chef Maylin will expertly guide you through the process. Happy shucking! Guests: Maylin Chavez, owner of Nácar OystersShow Notes & CreditsYou can learn more about Chef Maylin Chavez’s work on her website, nácaroysters.com. This episode was hosted by Tyson Rasor. Written by Megan Foucht. Edited by Suzie O’Neill, with production support from Kaitlyn Rich and Jon Bonkoski. Music by Imagined Nostalgia and Our Many Stars. Illustrations by Tony Sterling and design by Heldáy de la Cruz. This podcast was made possible by our funders at the Builders Initiative. The Builders Ini­tia­tive invests in and col­lab­o­rates with nonprof­its, busi­ness­es, and oth­ers work­ing towards sus­tain­able solu­tions to soci­etal and envi­ron­men­tal chal­lenges. Lastly, this podcast is a production from Ecotrust, where we work in partnership at the intersection of equity, economy, and environment. Learn more about Ecotrust at ecotrust.org. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ecotrust.substack.com

Welcome back for another episode of Tending the Tides: Stories of Mariculture on the Oregon Coast. In Episode 2, hosts Megan Foucht and Jon Bonkoski explore the history of oyster farming and dive into how oysters are grown, harvested, and eaten in Oregon. Hear from Xin Liu (Oregon Oyster Farms), Jed Bowers (Haystack Shellfish Company), and Alex Manderson (Oregon Department of Agriculture) about the challenges and opportunities facing Oregon’s oyster industry. Guests: Xin Liu, owner of Oregon Oyster Farms; Jed Bowers, owner of Haystack Shellfish Company; Alex Manderson, Shellfish Specialist at the Oregon Department of Agriculture.Show Notes & CreditsNote: Ostrea gigas was the original scientific name given to the Pacific oyster, also know as the Japanese oyster, in 1793. The Pacific oyster was later reclassified to Crassostrea gigas, and was reclassified again in 2017 to Magallana gigas.This episode was hosted and co-written by Megan Foucht and Jon Bonkoski. Edited by Suzie O’Neill. Co-produced by Emilie Chen, Kaitlyn Rich, and Tyson Rasor. Music by Imagined Nostalgia and Boxwood Orchestra. Illustrations by Tony Sterling and design by Heldáy de la Cruz. This podcast was made possible by our funders at the Builders Initiative; The Builders Ini­tia­tive invests in and col­lab­o­rates with nonprof­its, busi­ness­es, and oth­ers work­ing towards sus­tain­able solu­tions to soci­etal and envi­ron­men­tal chal­lenges. Lastly, this podcast is a production from Ecotrust, where we work in partnership at the intersection of equity, economy, and environment. Learn more about Ecotrust at ecotrust.org. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ecotrust.substack.com

Introducing a new podcast from Ecotrust called Tending the Tides: Stories of Mariculture on the Oregon Coast. In this first episode, hosts Suzie O’Neill and Tyson Rasor dive into some of the foundational ideas, opportunities, and challenges around developing a thriving mariculture sector on the Oregon coast. Hear from Karina Nielsen, Director of Oregon Sea Grant, and Tom Calvanese, Director of Oregon Kelp Alliance, as they walk listeners through concepts of the Oregon Way, Natural Capital, and visions for the future of mariculture in Oregon.Guests: Karina Nielsen, Director of Oregon Sea Grant; Tom Calvanese, Director of Oregon Kelp Alliance.Show Notes & CreditsThis episode was hosted by Tyson Rasor and Suzie O’Neill. Written by Emilie Chen. Produced and edited by Kaitlyn Rich. Music by Imagined Nostalgia and Boxwood Orchestra. Illustrations by Tony Sterling and design by Heldáy de la Cruz. The idea and concepts for the show are thanks to Jon Bonkoski and Megan Foucht. This podcast was made possible by our funders at the Builders Initiative. The Builders Ini­tia­tive invests in and col­lab­o­rates with non-prof­its, busi­ness­es, and oth­ers work­ing towards sus­tain­able solu­tions to soci­etal and envi­ron­men­tal chal­lenges. This podcast is a production from Ecotrust, where we work in partnership at the intersection of equity, economy, and environment. Learn more about Ecotrust at ecotrust.org.Thanks for listening to Ecotrust presents Tending the Tides! Subscribe so you never miss an episode. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ecotrust.substack.com

This Fall 2025, explore the Oregon coast with “Tending the Tides,” a new limited series podcast produced by Ecotrust. Dive into the world of mariculture and hear from oyster growers, scientists, seafood enthusiasts, and others as they share their expertise on the farming of marine life for food, restoration, and cultural knowledge. Learn more at ecotrust.org/tendingthetides.Credits: This trailer was narrated by Tyson Rasor. Written and edited by Emilie Chen. Music by Imagined Nostalgia. Illustrations by Tony Sterling and design by Heldáy de la Cruz. This podcast was made possible by our funders at the Builders Initiative. The Builders Ini­tia­tive invests in and col­lab­o­rates with non-prof­its, busi­ness­es, and oth­ers work­ing towards sus­tain­able solu­tions to soci­etal and envi­ron­men­tal chal­lenges.Thanks for listening to “Tending the Tides,” by Ecotrust. Subscribe for free so you never miss an episode! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ecotrust.substack.com