California Mussel – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Photo Credit: Gregory Krutzikowsky, ODFW

Overview

Species Common Name California Mussel
Species Scientific Name Mytilus californianus

Ecoregions

Nearshore

The Nearshore ecoregion includes a variety of habitats ranging from submerged high-relief rocky reefs to broad expanses of intertidal mudflats in estuaries and hosts a vast array of fish, invertebrates, marine mammals, birds, plants, and micro-organisms. This ecoregion encompasses the area from the outer boundary of Oregon’s Territorial Sea to the supra-tidal zone, and up into the estuaries.

Special needs

California mussels occur only in rocky intertidal and shallow subtidal habitat.

Limiting factors

Larval supplies and episodic recruitment may be the principal factors affecting abundance and distribution.

Data gaps

Investigate relationships between ocean drivers and settlement/recruitment.

Conservation actions

Monitor status of populations at index sites. Gather information to fill data gaps. Manage for sustainable harvest.