International Conference on Shellfish Restoration
The premier global gathering for shellfish restoration science and practice since 1996
About ICSR
Since 1996, the International Conference on Shellfish Restoration has convened the global restoration community every two years. ICSR brings together 300+ participants from 20+ countries, creating unparalleled opportunities for knowledge exchange, collaboration, and innovation.
The conference features cutting-edge research presentations, interactive workshops, field sessions, panel discussions, and professional networking sessions that advance the science and practice of shellfish restoration worldwide. ICSR deliberately brings the shellfish industry into that conversation, because growers, hatcheries, and suppliers hold much of the practical knowledge that restorative aquaculture depends on.
Who Attends ICSR
Research Scientists
Leading researchers presenting the latest findings in shellfish ecology, restoration techniques, and ecosystem services.
Restoration Practitioners
On-the-ground experts sharing lessons learned and innovative approaches from real-world projects.
Resource Managers
Government officials and natural resource managers developing restoration policies and programs.
Conservation Organizations
NGOs and nonprofits leading restoration initiatives across coastal ecosystems.
Indigenous Groups
Traditional knowledge holders and stewards of shellfish resources and coastal habitats.
Students
Graduate students and early-career researchers building the next generation of restoration expertise.
Shellfish Growers & Farms
Working oyster, clam, geoduck, and mussel producers whose daily practice shapes what restoration can achieve at scale.
Hatcheries & Suppliers
Commercial hatcheries, seed producers, and suppliers of the gear, substrate, and materials that restoration projects depend on.
Restorative Aquaculture
Consultants, restoration contractors, and researchers working where commercial production and habitat recovery reinforce each other.
Conference Activities
📊 Research Presentations
Oral presentations and lightning talks showcasing the latest research on oyster population dynamics, habitat assessment, urban restoration, species interactions, and restoration monitoring.
🎓 Interactive Workshops
Hands-on sessions covering restoration techniques, monitoring protocols, data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and project planning.
🗺️ Field Sessions
Guided, site-based learning at active restoration projects, providing firsthand, practitioner-led experience with local restoration approaches and challenges.
📋 Panel Discussions
Expert panels addressing policy, funding, partnerships, climate adaptation, and emerging restoration challenges.
🎯 Poster Sessions
Evening poster presentations allowing in-depth discussions of research and restoration projects.
🤝 Professional Networking Sessions
Welcome receptions, banquets, and structured networking fostering professional connections across the global restoration community.
🦪 Industry Exhibits
Exhibit space where hatcheries, growers, and suppliers show the gear, seed, and substrate that restoration work runs on.
Conference History
ICSR has convened biannually since 1996, spanning four continents
and bringing together thousands of restoration professionals over nearly three decades.
2024 - 21st ICSR, Jekyll Island, Georgia, USA
300+ attendees | 150+ presentations | 23 countries
Record-breaking attendance with presentations covering novel restoration techniques, climate adaptation, and ecosystem services valuation.
2022 - 20th ICSR, Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia
Held with the Australian Shellfish Reef Restoration Network, continuing the partnership begun at Adelaide in 2018.
2018 - 19th ICSR, Adelaide, Australia
First ICSR in the Southern Hemisphere, held with the Australian Shellfish Reef Restoration Network.
2016 - 18th ICSR, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Returned to Charleston, continuing the biannual US meeting begun in 2002.
2014 - 16th ICSR, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Emphasis on oyster reef restoration and living shorelines in the southeastern United States. Program Guide (PDF)
2012 - 15th ICSR, Groton, Connecticut, USA
US East Coast meeting following the 2011 Stirling conference.
2011 - 14th ICSR, Stirling, Scotland
ICSR's first meeting in Scotland.
2010 - 13th ICSR, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Marked 25 years since the first ICSR. Themed on the past, present, and future of shellfish restoration, and added special tracks responding to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill's impact on Gulf of Mexico oyster reefs.
2009 - 12th ICSR, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Themed "Healthy Coastal Environments for Successful Shellfish Restoration," built around Prince Edward Island's decades of public oyster ground restoration and enhancement.
2008 - 11th ICSR, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Themed "shellfish and society," examining the historical role of shellfish across coastal tribal nations, the Maori, Brittany, and Canada's First Nations.
2007 - 10th ICSR, Vlissingen, Netherlands
Titled "Innovation in the Exploitation and Management of Shellfish Resources," drawing over 200 abstracts on spatfall dynamics, ecosystem-based management, and offshore shellfish culture.
2006 - 9th ICSR, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Continued the biannual US meeting series.
2005 - 8th ICSR, Brest, France
Concurrent sessions ranged from genetics, pathology, hatcheries, and fisheries management to shellfish-ecosystem linkages and restoration policy.
2004 - 7th ICSR, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Continued the biannual US meeting series.
2002 - 6th ICSR, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
Featured heated debate on the proposed introduction of the non-native Suminoe oyster, Crassostrea ariakensis, into the Chesapeake Bay. Established Charleston as the recurring US host city.
2001 - 5th ICSR, Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Showcased shellfish's importance to First Nations traditional use and current practice, with field trips to Fanny Bay Oyster and Odyssey Companies.
2000 - 4th ICSR, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA
Returned to Hilton Head, the conference's founding location.
1999 - 3rd ICSR, Cork, Ireland
First ICSR outside North America, broadening the agenda to non-molluscan shellfish such as sea urchin and lobster.
1998 - 2nd ICSR, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA
Over 200 scientists, resource managers, and government officials met to consider how partnerships across scales could advance shellfish restoration.
1996 - 1st ICSR, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA
Inaugural Conference. Founded to recognize shellfish as indicators of environmental quality and examine how shellfish restoration could improve coastal ecosystem health.
ICSR 2024 Highlights
312
Attendees
23
Countries
150+
Presentations
Download ICSR 2024 Program Guide (PDF) | Full conference details
Code of Conduct
ICSR is committed to providing a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all participants. We maintain a zero-tolerance policy for harassment and inappropriate behavior.
Our Expectations
- Treat all participants with respect and professionalism
- Welcome diverse perspectives and experiences
- Respect presenter rights - no unauthorized photography or recording of presentations
- Report any violations to conference organizers immediately
- Support a safe and inclusive environment for learning and networking
Reporting: Participants who experience or witness harassment should contact conference organizers at info@shellfish-society.org