Tests of specially-designed tiles encouraged native species growth in Bay waters
Contact: media@sfport.com
Following two years of monitoring, the Port of San Francisco and Smithsonian Environmental Research Center announced the Living Seawall Pilot showed promising signs of ecological growth, including thriving communities of oysters, crabs, snails, seaweed and other marine organisms.
The Living Seawall Pilot explores how specially designed seawalls could improve biodiversity and support native marine species. The pilot is one of the first efforts to test “engineering with nature” principles in the Bay's urban seawall environment. Inspired by similar work in cities from Seattle to Sydney, this pioneering initiative could shape the future of shoreline protection in San Francisco Bay and beyond.
While full data analysis is still underway, preliminary results suggest that the textured surfaces used in the pilot do indeed promote biodiversity and support native species, including:
- Native Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida)
- Turkish towel (seaweed) (Chondracanthus)
- Rainbow seaweed (Mazzaella)
- Crisscross network seaweed (Polyneura latissima)
- Hermit crabs (Pagurus hirsutiusculus)
- Juvenile crabs of many native species, including Cancer crabs, Dungeness crabs, kelp crabs, porcelain crabs, and lined shore crabs
- Many species of native limpets and chitons
- Angular unicorn snail (Acanthinucella spirata)
- Several species of nudibranchs
- Gunnel (a small fish) (Pholis)
“The promising early results of this novel pilot program are a win for the future ecology of the San Francisco Bay,” said Port of San Francisco Executive Director Elaine Forbes. “What we learn will shape the rebuild of the waterfront to achieve a resilient shoreline. The Port is thrilled that this work will tribute to the growing body of knowledge on best practices for engineering with nature. I want to recognize the Port staff who contributed their skills and creativity to support this pilot, and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center for their staff’s close collaboration on this groundbreaking effort.”
“It has been a privilege to collaborate with the Port of San Francisco on this ambitious project,” said Andrew Chang, program leader for the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. “We have developed a wonderful working relationship with the Port's engineers and facilities staff who were particularly instrumental in the design and execution of this work. We are excited to dig into the rich dataset from this experiment, and we look forward to providing the Port with the full results of our analyses and design guidance for engineering with nature approaches in the coming months.”
A New Approach to Shoreline Engineering
Unlike traditional smooth concrete seawalls that often attract invasive species, the Living Seawall Pilot uses specially designed textured tiles. The Living Seawall Pilot collects data to compare tiles engineered with surface patterns and traditional smooth surfaces. The project also includes tiles composed of an admixture of marine-friendly materials intended to promote growth of species, providing better habitat for native species such as Olympia oysters, rockweed, and Pacific herring.
Installed at three Port locations – along the Pier 45 breakwater, at the Agricultural Building seawall near Pier 14, and along the South Beach Harbor East Breakwater - the study originally included more than 270 one-foot tiles and 18 larger-scale tiles. Tiles are placed at three different tidal elevations to test how environmental factors influence colonization by native marine life.
Promising Early Results
Begun in 2022, the pilot involved regular field monitoring and data collection by SERC scientists and Port Maintenance staff. The in-water monitoring phase is now concluded, and the small tiles will be removed and transferred to SERC’s labs in Tiburon for more detailed biological analysis, including studies of species composition, biodiversity, and ecological function. After laboratory analysis is complete, the Port and SERC will release a final report in 2026 that will be shared with local, regional, and international partners.
Findings from the pilot will inform the Port of San Francisco’s Waterfront Resilience Program, including the redesign of the Embarcadero Seawall, a rock and concrete wall that stretches over three miles from Fisherman’s Wharf to Mission Creek. One of the city’s oldest pieces of infrastructure, the seawall protects more than $100 billion in assets and annual economic activity and supports many of the city’s iconic destinations and parks which draw millions of visitors to the waterfront annually. Regional transportation infrastructure supported by the seawall include BART, Muni, and ferry networks, and more than 50 emergency assets depend on the seawall, which is also a critical emergency response and recovery area.
A Model for Collaboration
The Living Seawall Pilot is a model for public-scientific collaboration. The Port of San Francisco funded the project and led the design, permitting, fabrication, and installation of custom mounting frames, all fabricated at the Port’s Pier 50 Maintenance Facility. SERC led the scientific design and data collection effort, while Port Engineering, Maintenance, and Health and Safety teams helped ensure the project’s success from concept to deployment.
Permits were secured through the Bay Conservation and Development Commission and the Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Resources:
- More info about the Living Seawall Pilot: sfport.com/wrp/living-seawall
- For b-roll from July 14, 2025 activity, click this link. Credit the Port of San Francisco.
About the Port of San Francisco
The Port of San Francisco manages 7.5 miles of waterfront that is home to popular destinations and attractions, historic districts, small businesses and robust maritime opportunities. The Port works to advance environmentally and financially sustainable maritime, recreational, and economic opportunities for the City, Bay Area, and California.
About the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center provides science-based knowledge to meet critical environmental challenges. SERC leads objective research on coastal ecosystems—where land meets the sea—to inform real-world decisions for wise policies, best business practices, and a sustainable planet.