ICSR 2026 Program
Sessions, Special Events & Abstracts
October 4–7, 2026 · Shelton, Washington · Early Bird $400 · Student $300 · through September 1
Schedule at a Glance
The main conference runs Sunday through Wednesday. Thursday is a post-conference day with optional activities.
Conference Sessions
Organized by the ICSR 2026 Planning Committee & Program Team
S01
Indigenous-led Contemporary Restoration
Chairs: Julie Barber & Ryan Crim
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S02
Restoring Ancestral Indigenous Mariculture
Chairs: Marco Hatch & Melissa Poe
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S03
Hatchery Innovations, Upscaling & Industry
Chair: Matt Gray
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S04
Restorative Aquaculture
Chair: Tiffany Waters
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S05
Genetics, Disease & Biosecurity
Chair: Louis Plough, USDA
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S06
Using Historical and Geohistorical Data to Inform Restoration Practices
Chairs: Greg Dietl & Loren McClenachan
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S07
Urban Shellfish Restoration
Chairs: Katie Mosher, Carolyn Khoury, Tanasia Swift
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S08
Restoration of Other Molluscs & Inverts
Chair: Jeff Hetrick, Alutiiq Pride Marine Institute
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S09
Lessons Learned from Ostrea Communities of Practice
Chair: Kerstin Wasson, Elkhorn Slough/NOOC
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S10
Resilience Building, Connectivity & Seascape Approaches
Chairs: Matt Hare, Cornell University; Carter Smith & Stephanie Valdez, University of Washington
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S11
Outreach, Creative Communications & Storytelling
Chair: Phoebe Racine, The Nature Conservancy
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S12
Shell Recycling
Chair: Simon Branigan
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S13
Approaches to Substrate Supplementation
Chair: Peter Kingsley-Smith
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S14
Freshwater Mussel Restoration
Chair: Alexa Maine
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Special Events
Welcome Reception
Sunday, Oct. 4 — Meet fellow attendees and kick off the conference with an evening reception at Little Creek Casino Resort.
Welcome Reception Wine — Courtesy of Hog Island Oyster Co.
Sunday, Oct. 4 — The welcome reception wine is generously donated by Hog Island Oyster Co., one of California's most celebrated sustainable oyster farms and a longtime friend of the shellfish restoration community.
Traditional Salmon & Clam Cookout
Tuesday, Oct. 6 — A Salish Sea traditional cookout at the Squaxin Island Tribe's Little Creek resort with salmon and clams provided by various Tribal enterprises.
Lessons Learned Panel & Happy Hour
Monday, Oct. 5 — Sharing worst mistakes and best lessons from the field. Honest, entertaining, and educational.
Poster Session & Art Show/Auction
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 4:30–6:00pm — 7–8 exhibitors plus local artists sharing shellfish-inspired photography, books, and jewelry. (Coordinated by Lisa Paton)
Add-On: 45th Annual Oyster Fest
October 3–4 — Arriving early? The 45th Annual Oyster Fest takes place in Shelton right before ICSR 2026. Enjoy the world champion shucking competition, a seafood feast, and a total taste of place. Shuttles available from the venue.
Independent community event. Not affiliated with or organized by ISRS or PSRF.
Bring a Shell from Your Waters
We invite all attendees to bring one or more shells of native shellfish from your home waters. Label each shell with the species and location. All shells will be displayed in a woven kelp basket — a collective, global symbol of the shellfish we are working to restore.
Please ensure shells are thoroughly dry-cured and free of organic material.
Field Sessions & Special Activities
Wednesday, October 7 — Guided, site-based learning led by regional scientists and practitioners. All sessions depart 1:30–2pm. Shuttle provided. Sign up during registration by September 18.
🦪 Olympia Oyster Company Tour
2–4:30pm • Capacity: 50 • Fee: $25
Historic tidelands, oyster dikes, and floating culture.
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🔬 Chew Center / Conservation Hatchery
2pm onwards • Capacity: 40 • Fee: $25
PSRF’s hatchery + fresh oysters & appetizers.
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🚣 Kayak Paddle to Hope Island
Departs 1:30pm, 2–4:30pm paddle • Capacity: 14 • Fee: $150
Tribally-led paddle through South Sound.
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🚤 Guided Boat Tour of South Sound
Departs 1:30pm, 2–5pm trip • Capacity: 8 • Fee: $75
Tribally-led boat tour with snacks & beverages.
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🏛️ Squaxin Island Museum
2–4pm • Capacity: 20 • Fee: $25
Tour the Home of Sacred Belongings. Shuttle provided.
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⛳ Golf Tournament
2pm onwards • Capacity: 6–10 • Pay at course
An optional, relaxed social outing — pay at the course, not included in registration. Shuttle provided.
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🌊 Low Tide Field Session (Oct 8)
Thursday, 9am–12:45pm • Capacity: 12–25 • Free
Post-conference guided field study of Olympia oyster beds.
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Photo credits: hatchery — Oregon State University (CC BY-SA 2.0); kayaking — Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0); boat tour — brewbooks/Flickr (CC BY 2.0); Squaxin Island Museum — Squaxin Island Tribe (CC BY-SA 3.0).
Submit Your Abstract
ISRS International Conference 2026 — October 4–7, 2026 | Little Creek Casino Resort, Shelton, Washington
Submissions are now open through June 12, 2026.
Oral presentations and poster sessions are available across all 14 conference sessions.