ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on reef-forming native and non-native bivalves, where restoration efforts for non-extractive services have been directed since the 1990s. The quantity and quality of food can be directly correlated with water quality, with oysters thriving in highly turbid waters. Today, native and non-native species are receiving attention either through enhancement or restoration, especially in the USA for the non-extractive ecosystem services of two native species, the Eastern oyster, and the greatly depleted Olympia oyster. A major requirement before enhancement or restoration occurs is to assess their current status and to eventually conduct triage assessments determining where to focus limited resources. The chapter describes the most important site selection criteria for intertidal and subtidal restoration focusing on physical and biological site traits. The life cycle of oysters consists of a larval phase prior to settlement and a sedentary, or sessile, adult phase.
