The Olympia oyster, Ostrea lurida, is the only native species of oyster on the US West Coast with populations historically distributed among estuaries from British Columbia, Canada to Baja California, Mexico. In Morro Bay, CA the status of the population of Olympia oysters has been unknown and presumed to be locally extinct. This presentation highlights work focused on population monitoring and restorative aquaculture practices that are working together to aid the recovery of this species in Morro Bay.
Join CCSPA, CA State Parks, and Dr. Kevin Marquez Johnson, Aquaculture Extension Specialist with California Sea Grant and Cal Poly SLO for this Mind Walk!
Location: SLO Public Market, upstairs in the main building (elevator available). 3845 S Higuera St, San Luis Obispo
Time: Event space open from 4 pm – 6 pm. The presentation begins promptly at 4:30 pm.
Fees: $5 admission at the door for ages 18 and over. Cash, card, and Venmo accepted. Free for ages 17 and under and free for Friends of CCSPA and one guest. Must bring Friend of CCSPA card to ensure free attendance. Not a Friend but want to join? Become a Friend of CCSPA with a donation of $35 or more.
Capacity: No RSVP required. 70 seats available indoors, 80 seats available on the attached patio. First come, first served on seating. If you are in a large group (10+), please arrive by 4:15 pm.
Dr. Kevin Marquez Johnson is a California Sea Grant Extension Specialist based at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. His work is focused on integrating genomics with commercial and restorative aquaculture practices to support both food production and population recovery in an ever-changing climate. Dr. Johnson began his career at Cuesta Community College before transferring to California State University, Monterey Bay in 2009. At CSUMB he developed an interest in using applied genomic techniques to understand how climate change will reshape our coastal ecosystems. After CSUMB he went on to receive a PhD. From the University of California, Santa Barbara where he studied the impacts of ocean acidification and warming on pelagic marine invertebrates. In 2017, he began a postdoctoral fellowship at Louisiana State University where he used genetic and epigenetic sequencing to evaluate the potential for increasing salinity tolerance of the American oyster. Dr. Johnson joined California Sea Grant and Cal Poly SLO in 2020 where he now maintains an active research group of graduate and undergraduate students who are developing methodologies and best management practices for commercially and ecologically relevant species.
