Native Eelgrass – Oregon Conservation Strategy

Overview

Species Common Name Native Eelgrass
Species Scientific Name Zostera marina

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

Native eelgrass occurs only in intertidal and shallow subtidal habitat with soft sediment and adequate light. In Oregon, this species is primarily found in estuaries.

Limiting factors

Availability of suitable habitat is a primary limiting factor for native eelgrass.

Data gaps

Model sea-level rise impacts.

Conservation actions

Minimize impacts related to dredging, development, and commercial shellfish mariculture operations. Observe harvest restrictions. Evaluate impacts of sea-level rise.

Key reference or plan

Pacific Coast Groundfish Essential Fish Habitat Pacific Coast Salmon Essential Fish Habitat