It’s the best oyster you’ve (probably) never tasted. For years, many people assumed it was gone from Tomales Bay altogether. But one day, Joe Newman, a Developmental Technician in the Aquatic Resources Group (ARG) at the University of California, Davis, Bodega Marine Laboratory (BML), got a call from a local oyster grower, who jokingly told him to “grab a bottle of hot sauce” and head to a nearby boat launch.
The world’s abalone are threatened, endangered or otherwise vulnerable in nearly every corner of the planet. While captive breeding efforts are underway for some species, these giant sea snails are notoriously difficult to spawn. If only we could wave a magic wand to know when abalone are ready to reproduce, without even touching them.
The UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory's Aquatic Resources Group offers a glimpse into the world of oyster aquaculture. See the hatchery, where tiny Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida) - the only oyster species native to the west coast of the US - are prepared for outplanting into the ocean.
This video was filmed and produced by Sam Briggs and features Joe Newman. Want to see more of Sam's work? Check out his science-meets-art photography on Instagram.
