About this Working Group:

In the United States, the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is an economically, culturally, and ecologically important oyster species that ranges from Maine to Texas. Eastern oyster populations are managed by a variety of federal, state, and local governments as well as nongovernmental organizations operating at scales from the local watershed to internationally. In addition, the long history of oyster harvesting and coastal land use change in the United States, and asynchronous fluctuations in abundance across the species range due to diverse pressures (e.g., hydrological changes, pollution, disease, overharvesting), combined with often scarce historical monitoring records documenting the timing and magnitude of the changes, have challenged oyster applied professionals for well over a century. Several studies have demonstrated the potential utility of historical data sources (e.g., maps, fisheries records, archaeological middens, fossils) to inform oyster management. However, actual use of historical data to support oyster conservation and resource management decisions is still rare.

The Oysters Past working group brings together academic researchers (conservation paleobiologists, archaeologists, and historical ecologists) and applied professionals tasked with conserving, managing, and/or restoring oyster populations and habitat to: 1) identify priority research directions for academic researchers by evaluating the information needs among applied professionals and the types of information from the past that may be able to address them; and 2) build trust and commitment to promote long-lasting and sustained collaboration between academic researchers and applied professionals.