3 Responses

  1. I attended the very interestng symposium and second Laura Hendricks’ concerns. Neither the industry nor science, at this point, considers the impact of 50+ acre geoduck farms that are repeatedly planted, and harvested, with not enough time between for true recovery of species.

    • As a long time comercial geoduck harvester. I’m interested in starting a geoduck “farm” on tide land leased from a private resident in Kitsap county. I am prepared for a long process of obtaining permits, envirmental impact and beach certifications, etc. I think if this can be done in a matter that will enhance the water quality and have little or no negetive impact on the tideland and hopefully be a positive model for future aquatic projects.

      • Well, I wish you luck Jeff. I do think that it is not a correct assumption that you will have little or no negative impact on the tideland. What you are asking to do is turn an environment that is diverse, into one that supports a monoculture (speaking generically here, obviously there are other organisms but you are going to be favoring one). While some growers are doing little beyond the planting, many are using nets to protect from birds and there has been documentation of birds of prey being caught in the nets. There are people, and usually locals not out of county ‘enviros’, that don’t like the notion of having their beautiful quiet waterfront property (that they may have spent a small fortune on) suddenly turned into a commercial operation at all hours of the night when the tides are out. As you know, the compressors always make noise. I don’t live on the beach but would also likely be put off by that. But if the county is supporting your efforts, there is little anyone can do to stop someone from starting and running a farm.

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