Tending the Tides: Stories of Mariculture on the Oregon Coast

Episode 6: The Currency of Care

In this episode of Tending the Tides, Jon and Kaitlyn sit down with Cheryl Chen, CEO and co-founder of Salmon Returns [https://salmonreturns.com/], to explore the emerging world of stewardship credits and what they could mean for coastal communities. Cheryl redefines how we think about underwater infrastructure, reminds us that ecosystems need “preventative care” just like humans, and presents a vision for the Oregon coast where capital flows directly to the people stewarding our lands and waters. Guests: Cheryl Chen, CEO and Co-Founder of Salmon Returns Show Notes and Credits To learn more about stewardship credits, check out these resources: * The BioFi Project [https://www.biofi.earth/] * Can 'Biodiversity Credits' Boost Conservation? [https://www.wri.org/insights/biodiversity-credits-explained] * Biodiversity Credit Alliance [https://www.biodiversitycreditalliance.org/] * Regen Registry [https://www.registry.regen.network/] You can find Cheryl’s presentation from the Mariculture Future Forum here [https://ecotrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Salmon-Returns_Mariculture-Biodiversity-Credit-Keynote_Slide-Deck.pdf]. To learn more about Salmon Returns, visit salmonreturns.com [https://salmonreturns.com/]. This episode was hosted and written by Jon Bonkoski and Kaitlyn Rich. Edited by Suzie O’Neill, with production support from Megan Foucht, Emilie Chen, and Tyson Rasor. Music by Imagined Nostalgia, Boxwood Orchestra, and Our Many Stars. Illustrations by Tony Sterling and design by Heldáy de la Cruz. This podcast was made possible by our funders at Builders Vision Philanthropy; Builders Vision invests in and col­lab­o­rates with nonprof­its, busi­ness­es, and oth­ers work­ing towards sus­tain­able solu­tions to soci­etal and envi­ron­men­tal chal­lenges. Finally, this podcast is a production from Ecotrust, where we work in partnership at the intersection of equity, economy, and environment. Learn more at ecotrust.org This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ecotrust.substack.com [https://ecotrust.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Bonus: What It's Like to Dive

In this bonus episode of Tending the Tides, divers share what it’s really like to harvest purple sea urchins beneath the rough waves of the Oregon coast. Through conversations with Brad Bailey and Nate Jones, we learn about the physical intensity and technical skill behind this work—from battling powerful surge to spending hours tethered below the surface. Guests: Brad Bailey, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of OoNee Sea Urchin Ranch; Nate Jones, Chief Scientist with Oregon Seaweed and Commercial Urchin Diver at OoNee Sea Urchin Ranch. Show Notes & Credits Visit oo-nee.com and oregonseaweed.com to learn more about Nate and Brad’s work. This episode was hosted by Tyson Rasor. Written by Emilie Chen and edited by Suzie O’Neill, with production support from Megan Foucht, Kaitlyn Rich, Tyson Rasor and Jon Bonkoski. Music by Imagined Nostalgia and Boxwood Orchestra. Illustrations by Tony Sterling and design by Heldáy de la Cruz. This podcast was made possible by our funders at Builders Vision Philanthropy; Builders Vision Philanthropy invests in and col­lab­o­rates with nonprof­its, busi­ness­es, and oth­ers work­ing towards sus­tain­able solu­tions to soci­etal and envi­ron­men­tal chal­lenges. Lastly, this podcast is a production from Ecotrust, where we work in partnership at the intersection of equity, economy, and environment. Learn more about Ecotrust at ecotrust.org. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ecotrust.substack.com [https://ecotrust.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 5: An Ecosystem Balancing Act

Welcome back for another episode of Tending the Tides: Stories of Mariculture on the Oregon Coast. In Episode 5, hosts Jon Bonkoski and Suzie O’Neill uncover the issues of sea urchin overpopulation and the disappearance of kelp forest along the Oregon coast, as well as what small businesses and research organizations are doing about it. Guests: Tom Calvanese, Director of the Oregon Kelp Alliance; Dr. Sara Hamilton, Science Coordinator at the Oregon Kelp Alliance; Brad Bailey, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of OoNee Sea Urchin Ranch; Aaron Huang, Co-founder and President of OoNee Sea Urchin Ranch; Nate Jones, Chief Scientist with Oregon Seaweed and Commercial Urchin Diver at OoNee Sea Urchin Ranch; Jeff Griffin, Strategic Director at the Port of Bandon. Show Notes & Credits This episode was hosted by Suzie O’Neill and Jon Bonkoski. Written by Tyson Rasor, Megan Foucht, and Jon Bonkoski. Edited by Tyson Rasor. Produced by Megan Foucht, Emilie Chen, and Kaitlyn Rich. Music by Imagined Nostalgia, Boxwood Orchestra, and Our Many Stars. Illustrations by Tony Sterling and design by Heldáy de la Cruz. This podcast was made possible by our funders at Builders Vision Philanthropy; Builders Vision invests in and col­lab­o­rates with nonprof­its, busi­ness­es, and oth­ers work­ing towards sus­tain­able solu­tions to soci­etal and envi­ron­men­tal chal­lenges. Finally, this podcast is a production from Ecotrust, where we work in partnership at the intersection of equity, economy, and environment. Learn more at ecotrust.org This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ecotrust.substack.com [https://ecotrust.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 4: A Seaweed Snack

In this episode of Tending the Tides, hosts Kaitlyn Rich and Emilie Chen dive into the vibrant world of seaweed—from Oregon’s rich kelp forests to the salty seaweed snacks of their childhoods. Through conversations with marine biologists, entrepreneurs, and Chef Strong from our previous episode, they uncover kelp’s vital role in sustaining marine ecosystems and buffering climate impacts. They also explore the growing movement to farm seaweed along the Oregon coast and reflect on the deep cultural connections that Tribes and immigrant communities in Oregon have long held with seaweeds and kelps. Guests: Sara Hamilton, Science Coordinator at the Oregon Kelp Alliance; Alanna Kieffer, marine biologist and owner of Shifting Tides; Chuck Toombs, Founder and CEO of Oregon Seaweed; Jason Busch, Founder and COO of Oregon Seaweed; Chef Jack Strong, Executive Chef at the Allison Inn and Spa; Aaron Huang, Founder of Oo-Nee Sea Ranch; Tom Calvanese, Director of the Oregon Kelp Alliance. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ecotrust.substack.com [https://ecotrust.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 3: Restoring the Olympia Oyster

In Episode 3 of Tending the Tides, hosts Kaitlyn Rich and Megan Foucht explore the history and significance of the Olympia oyster, the only native oyster on the West Coast. Through conversations with restoration practitioners, chefs, and others, Megan and Kaitlyn introduce you to the Olympia oyster, discuss current and past restoration efforts, and highlight why this little oyster is worth saving. Guests: Steve Rumrill, retired leader of the Shellfish Program at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife; Chef Jack Strong, Executive Chef at the Allison Inn and Spa; Chef Maylin Chavez, owner of Nácar Oysters; Dick Vanderschaaf,  Associate Conservation Director for the Oceans and Coast Program within the Oregon chapter of The Nature Conservancy; Jed Bowers, owner of Haystack Shellfish Company; and Alanna Kieffer, Shifting Tides and Oregon Seaweed. Show Notes & Credits This episode was hosted by Megan Foucht and Kaitlyn Rich, edited by Suzie O’Neill, and written by Megan Foucht. Produced by Kaitlyn Rich, Jon Bonkoski, Tyson Rasor, and Emilie Chen. Music by Imagined Nostalgia, Boxwood Orchestra, and Our Many Stars. Illustrations by Tony Sterling and design by Heldáy de la Cruz. This podcast was made possible by our funders at the Builders Initiative; The Builders Ini­tia­tive invests in and col­lab­o­rates with nonprof­its, busi­ness­es, and oth­ers work­ing towards sus­tain­able solu­tions to soci­etal and envi­ron­men­tal chal­lenges. Finally, this podcast is a production of Ecotrust, where we work in partnership at the intersection of equity, economy, and environment. Learn more about Ecotrust at ecotrust.org. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ecotrust.substack.com [https://ecotrust.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]