Dr. Steve Rumrill, Shellfish Program Leader for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, has worked in Oregon's estuaries and nearshore marine environment for the past 20 years.  Before that, he combed the coastlines of California, Washington, and British Columbia to conduct research on the biology and ecology of marine and estuarine invertebrates that inhabit the intertidal and subtidal zones.  He is intrigued by the ecological processes that link the four components of a coastal land-margin ecosystem (maritime climate, watershed, estuary, nearshore ocean) with the life histories of the plants and animals that live along the shoreline.  Steve has particular interests in the mechanisms that allow populations of invertebrates - clams, crabs, shrimp, seastars, urchins, anemones, etc. to persist and maintain themselves in the dynamic coastal environment.  For the first chapter of his professional career as an agency investigator, he served as the chief scientist and research program coordinator for the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve where he worked to restore 100 acres of diked lands into productive salt marsh.  Steve also partnered with others up and down the coast on numerous projects including monitoring water quality, investigating oyster/eelgrass interactions and encouraging the revival of the native Olympia oyster. In October, he moved from Coos Bay to Newport to lead Oregon’s Shellfish Program and to direct the state-wide efforts on population assessment, sustainable harvests, and conservation of Oregon's shellfish.  The program melds research and management in the dynamic ecosystem that spans the coastal watersheds to Oregon's Territorial Sea (3 mile limit).  For example, scientific ageing of clams and sea urchins is underway to develop better estimates of growth and to develop sustainable harvest rates for sport and commercial harvesters.  In addition, the program is investigating the recent introduction of Purple Varnish clams (an invasive species from Asia that is spreading southward from Puget Sound) and possible ways to gain information about the invasion through innovative and experimental management actions. Stay tuned for more on Steve's efforts and how you might get involved.

For more information:

Contact Steve at (541) 867-0300 ext. 245 or Steven.S.Rumrill@state.or.us<mailto:Steven.S.Rumrill@state.or.us>

ODFW Shellfish Program: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/mrp/shellfish/

Bay clam identification including the Purple Varnish Clam: http://www.dfw.state.or.us/MRP/shellfish/bayclams/ClamID.asp