In October 2025, Ecotrust launched a podcast series called “Tending Tides: Stories of Mariculture on The Oregon Coast.” The series is an audio expansion of their blog, “Stories of Home,” that shares narratives from Salmon Nation.
Tending Tides explores Oregon’s growing need for and interest in an emergent farming method called “mariculture.” To many, the Oregon Coast is an ideal place for mariculture because of its unique ecology; high winds are frequent along its shores. The result is a natural phenomenon known as “upwelling” that stirs up cold, nutrient rich water that saltwater organisms thrive in. Mariculture refers not only to the farming of marine life for food, but also to the restoration and conservation of essential marine habitats, and the preservation of Indigenous knowledge.
Tending Tides looks closely at how the “ocean farming” of oysters, urchins, and seaweed can help Oregon’s struggling coastal communities build a flourishing, “blue” economy.
Mariculture can be a game-changer for struggling coastal communities. It often strengthens human relationships and builds a more equitable economy than what previously existed. It can also improve a community’s climate resilience because mariculture needs clean water to safely and successfully grow marine life. But it’s not without its critics, either.
Throughout the podcast series, you’ll be asked the question, “how do we share these public spaces along the coast?”
Episode Synopses:
Episode 1: Introducing Tending the Tides
The first episode begins by defining “mariculture” and “blue economy.” It looks into the opportunities and challenges that both present to the Oregon Coast and its residents.
Episode 2: On the Half Shell
Dive into the mechanics of how oysters are grown, harvested, and eaten in Oregon. Learn about the specific challenges and opportunities Oregon’s oyster industry faces.
Episode 3: Restoring the Olympia Oyster
Learn the history and significance of the West Coast’s only native oyster – the Olympia oyster. Hear from restoration practitioners, chefs, and more about their past and current efforts to protect this unique oyster.
Episode 4: A Seaweed Snack
Immerse yourself in the vibrant underwater world of Oregon’s rich kelp forests. Learn how these ocean forests sustain marine ecosystems and buffer climate impacts. Hear about the growing movement to farm seaweed along the Oregon coast. Then, reflect upon the deep cultural connections that Oregon Tribes and immigrant communities have long held with seaweed and kelp.