Env

ironm

enta

l Pol

icy

PACIFIC COASTSHELLFISH GROWERS

ASSOCIATION

June 2001

2

Olympia

Seattle

San Francisco

Portland

Vancouver

Juneau

Anchorage

�

�

Kachemak Bay

Seward

Samish Bay

Hood CanalPuget Sound

Grays HarborWillapa Bay

Tillamook Bay

Yaquina Bay

Coos Bay

Tomales Bay

Humboldt Bay

Winchester Bay

Netarts Bay

P a c i f i c O c e an

Sitka

Ketchikan

Astoria

Victoria

In rural shoreline communties, wherejobs are scarce, the shellfish industryprovides family-wage jobs underscoringthe need for the industry to maintainhealthy ecosystems through effectiveenvironmental management.

3

SHELLFISH AND THEMARINEENVIRONMENT

Shellfish farmers’livelihoods depend upon thedelicate balance of the marineenvironment. For generations,farmers have played a criticalstewardship role in protectingand restoring water quality andhabitat. Since the industry firstgot its start in the mid-1800s,vast environmental and politicalchanges have occurred. Withincreasing pressure on shellfishgrowing areas brought about byshoreline development andcompetition for naturalresources, shellfish farmersrecognize that long-termsustainability depends on thebroader overall environmentalhealth of the estuaries in whichthey work and cooperation withother estuary users.

The uniquestewardship role of

shellfish farmers, long-time champions for

water quality, is beneficialto every water user.

Shellfish farmers in thePacific Coast ShellfishGrowers Association

recognize that long-termsustainability depends on

the broader overallenvironmental health of

the estuaries in whichthey work and a

recognition and respectfor and among other

estuary users.

EP + ECOP = EMSEnvironmental

PolicyEnvironmental

Management SystemEnvironmental

Codes of Practice

The Environmental Management System (EMS) consists ofthis Environmental Policy (EP) and Environmental Codes ofPractice (ECOP) to implement the policy.

Pac

ific C

oast

She

llfish

Gro

wer

s A

ssoc

iatio

n

This Environmental Policyacknowledges the dependence ofshellfish growers on a healthyestuarine ecosystem and serves asthe foundation for the Environ-mental Management System for

the West Coast Shellfish Industry.This program is designed to assureshellfish farming operationscontinue in the model ofstewardship that has long been thehallmark of the industry.

4

Env

ironm

enta

l Pol

icy

WASTEMANAGEMENT

Shellfish farmers minimizeimpacts of waste generated fromfarming and processing activitiesthrough reduction, reuse,recycling and recovery measures.

SHARING RESOURCESShellfish farmers work to

create and maintain positiverelationships with other shore-line users through cooperativeand educational efforts and byacknowledging and responding tocommunity concerns.

ENVIRONMENTALEXCELLENCE

Shellfish farmers arecommitted independently andcollectively to environmentalexcellence. To achieve this, memberfarms continually evaluate andimprove their environmentalperformance to remain economi-cally viable, environmentally soundand state-of-the-art.

REGULATORYCOMPLIANCE

Shellfish farmers meet andstrive to exceed compliance withall relevant local, state, federaland international environmentalregulations.

ENVIRONMENTALSTEWARDSHIP &RESPONSIBLEMANAGEMENT

Shellfish farmers serve asstewards of the estuaries andwatersheds in which they operate.Growers support education,outreach, research and publicpolicies that ensure activities intheir watersheds are understoodand negative impacts on themarine ecosystem are minimized.Members manage their farmingoperations and processingfacilities in a sustainable andecologically responsible mannerto ensure a healthy estuarineecosystem and the existence ofsafe, high-quality, healthfulshellfish for this and futuregenerations.

Members of thePacific Coast Shellfish

Growers Associationare committed to the

policies intended toprotect and preserve

the health of theenvironment in which

they work.

Implementation of an effective EMSensures farming practices, such as thishand-harvesting of oysters in an estuaryin Willapa Bay, Washington, have thelightest possible touch on the estuarineecosystem.

5

The survival and growth oftoday’s West Coast shellfishindustry depend on growers’involvement in a variety ofendeavors. A healthy estuarineecosystem is central to the shellfishgrowers’ economic future. In turn,healthy shellfish growing areas arecentral to a healthy ecosystem.

Shellfish growers’stewardship — in terms ofmonitoring, protecting andrestoring water quality — iscritical to the long-term health of

Env

ironm

enta

l Ste

war

dshi

p&

Res

pons

ible

Man

agem

ent

Growers supporteducation, outreach,research and publicpolicies that ensure

activities in theirwatersheds are

understood and negativeimpacts on the marine

ecosystem are minimized.Members manage theirfarming operations andprocessing facilities in a

sustainable andecologically responsible

manner to ensure ahealthy estuarine

ecosystem and theexistence of safe, high-

quality, healthful shellfishfor this and future

generations.

the estuary. With their vestedinterest, growers are uniquelyqualified to serve in such acapacity. Pacific Coast ShellfishGrowers Association (PCSGA)members take this responsibilityseriously and reflect it in theirwork. They also involvethemselves actively in localshoreline, watershed and growthmanagement planning to ensureother activities in and around theestuary don’t adversely affect itshealth.

Above: Pacific Coast shellfish growersare committed to responsiblestewardship of their own tidelands aswell as the surrounding watershed.

Ecologically diverse habitat is created bythese intertidal oyster longlines inSamish Bay, Washington.

6

To be effective in thisimportant role, growers need athorough understanding ofestuarine ecosystems.Understanding is the first step inbeing able to minimize andmitigate the potentially negativeimpacts of culture or processingactivities. The habitat, refuge andforage opportunities created bythe oyster crop structure, and thefiltering capacity of the oystersthemselves (as much as 65gallons per day per oyster), havebeen shown to be crucialcomponents of normal estuarineprocesses. Shellfish are oftenreferred to as “canaries in a coalmine” or “sentinel” species,because they are excellentindicators of the overall health ofthe estuary.

In Chesapeake Bay andother estuarine systems on theEast Coast of the United States,natural beds of oysters have all

but disappeared as a result ofpoor management, disease andpollution problems. Today, thereare extensive efforts to restore theoyster populations to theseestuaries because scientists havedetermined they are a keystonespecies in the ecosystem. Whilethe cropping systems employedby many West Coast growers aredifferent than natural reefs inChesapeake Bay, cultured bivalvesprovide comparable ecologicalbenefits.

Through the research andeducation arm of PCSGA, thePacific Shellfish Institute,shellfish growers are supportingstudies to improve understandingof the ecological interactions oftheir crops within the estuarineecosystem. The goal of thisresearch is to minimize thenegative effects of cultureactivities while maximizingbeneficial ones. PCSGA members

also facilitate this researchthrough technical assistance andaccess to their farms. Growerscommit to staying abreast ofcurrent science and adaptinginnovative culture systems asmore environmentally sensitive,economically viable alternativesare developed.

Growers recognize that ahealthy estuarine ecosystem isessential for all species of marinelife. Estuarine health can bejeopardized if culture orprocessing activities spread pests,introduce diseases and non-indigenous aquatic nuisancespecies or compromise geneticintegrity of natural bivalve stocks.Growers abide by all currenttransfer and import permitrequirements to minimize theserisks and continually work withresource management agencies tostrengthen protective measuresand ensure aquatic animal health.

Tideland stabilization and shellfishculture can stimulate seagrass andmacroalgae growth. Light penetration formarine plant photosynthesis and nutrientrecycling is improved as individualbivalves filter phytoplankton from up to65 gallons of seawater per day.

Above: the nudibranch, Archidorismontereyensis grazes on biofoulingattached to clam predator netting.Below, eelgrass thrives in a Willapa Bayoyster bed.

7

Envir

onm

enta

l Exc

elle

nce

Shellfish farmers arecommitted independently

and collectively toenvironmental excellence.

To achieve this, memberfarms continually evaluate

and improve theirenvironmental

performance to remaineconomically viable,

environmentally soundand state-of-the-art.

Reg

ulat

ory

Com

plia

nce

Shellfish farming andprocessing activities are governedby a complex assortment of local,state, federal and internationallaws and regulations. These lawsand regulations and how they areimplemented vary, depending onthe state or county in which a farmis located.

The shellfish industry iscommitted to ensuring these lawsand regulations areenvironmentally effective, basedon sound science and do notplace an unreasonable financialburden on growers or regulators.

The Environmental Codes ofPractice identifies all laws andregulations relevant to thevarious culture practices used inWest Coast growing regions.PCSGA members who adopt theEMS are knowledgeable of thelaws and regulations in theirregions and committed tomeeting and, where practical,exceeding compliance.

Growers work to assureadequate safeguards andregulations are implemented andenforced to protect estuarine andmarine resources, such as thedevelopment of a NationalGeographic Oil Spill ResponsePlan.

Shellfish farmersmeet and strive to exceed

compliance with allrelevant local, state,

federal and internationalenvironmental

regulations.

Shellfish growers frequently meet withstate and federal regulators to ensurepractices are in regulatory compliance.Here, officials inspect an oyster bed inTillamook Bay, Oregon.

Harvesting oysters grown on intertidalstakes in Coos Bay, Oregon.

A credible environmentalmanagement program requiresaccountability. In theircommitment to environmentalexcellence, PCSGA membersroutinely evaluate and improvetheir environmental performance,individually and collectively.

In many of the West Coastestuaries where shellfish farmingoccurs, salmon or other specieshave been listed as threatened orendangered under the federalEndangered Species Act. Duringportions of their life cycles, someof these species use the structureand habitat provided by shellfishbeds to forage for prey or toescape from predators. A goal ofthe shellfish industry is to ensurethat shellfish culture and harvestpractices are compatible with andenhance the survival and recoveryof these listed species. DevelopingEnvironmental Codes of Practiceand being accountable for itsimplementation are key to theindustry’s sustainability andessential to operating in areaswith listed species.

8

Waste management is crucialto the financial and environmentalsuccess of any business. While theshellfish being grown are naturalproducts, wastes are generated inthe production and processing ofthem. Disposal of solid organicmaterials and wastewater isconducted according toregulations. Where practical,these by-products are reused orrecycled. For example, shells fromoyster shucking plants are reusedas “cultch” for seeding juvenileoysters.

The shellfish industry iscommitted to findingenvironmentally sustainable,economically viable wastemanagement alternatives.Culturists continually seek moredurable plastics or alternativereusable materials, and userecyclable and reusablecultivation materials whereverfeasible. Shellfish farmers arecareful to minimize the visualimpact of their operations.Should man-made materialsaccidentally escape the farmedareas, they will be promptlyrecovered. Processors periodicallyreview their packaging and seekeconomically viable,environmentally friendlyalternatives with which to marketshellfish products.

Growers regularly patroltheir tidelands and adjoiningrecreational areas for non-naturaldebris associated with theirculture activities, as well asmaterials that wash onto theirland from other sources. Growerswork cooperatively withregulatory agencies (such as thestate departments of health,Interstate Shellfish SanitationConference, U.S. Food and DrugAdministration) to adapt tobetter environmental practices,such as the use of reusable tags,bags, etc.

Was

te M

anag

emen

t

Shellfish farmersminimize the impact ofwaste from farming and

processing activitiesthrough reduction, reuse,

recycling and recovery.

Oyster shells, a by-product of the oystershucking process, are reused by aging,washing and bagging for “cultch,” towhich seed oysters will attach.

Used in packaging shucked oystermeats, PET plastics facilitaterecycling by consumers.

Processing plant wastewater is reused toirrigate fir trees in Shelton, Washington.

9

Shellfish farmerswork to create andmaintain positive

relationships with othershoreline users through

cooperative andeducational efforts and by

acknowledging andresponding to

community concerns.

Shar

ing

Res

ourc

esShellfish growers meet with othershoreline property owners and users toanswer questions about industrypractices and to acknowledge andrespond to concerns.

Shellfish growers recognizeand respect the value of theestuarine ecosystem to otherusers. Growers strive tounderstand other users’ needsand to educate other user groupsregarding the benefits and needsof the shellfish industry.

Farms are maintained in aneat, attractive fashion to becompatible with the naturalbeauty of the surroundingshoreline. In an effort to avoidconflict, surroundinglandowners, recreators and otherusers are provided opportunitiesto learn about shellfish farmingactivities. Complaints andconcerns are promptly addressed.

The waters of the PacificCoast are among the mostpristine in the world. Withproper stewardship, the shellfishindustry and its benefits canbe maintainedindefinitely for thegood of all.

10

industry and a thriving oysterindustry targeting a hungry SanFrancisco half-shell market.Tomales growers produce highlysought single oysters for the rawbar trade. A short distancesouthwest of Tomales Bay isDrakes Estero, where clusteredoysters suspended from racks aregrown. Humboldt Bay innorthern California supportsextensive bottom, intertidallongline and rack and bag cultureof Pacific oysters as well as anursery system that serves as oneof the industry’s key shellfishseed suppliers.

The roots of the West Coastshellfish industry can be tracedback to the mid 1800s, whenoystermen began harvestingnative Olympia oysters (Ostreaconchaphila) from San FranciscoBay. To keep up with the demandof hungry gold miners during theCalifornia Gold Rush, commercialoyster harvesting expanded northfrom San Francisco intoWashington’s Willapa Bay andPuget Sound.

Intensive cultivation beganin Washington as a result of theBush and Callow Acts passed bythe Washington Legislature in1895. These provided for the saleof tidelands into privateownership specifically for thepurpose of culturing shellfish.The Bush and Callow Acts wereintended to stimulate a cultureindustry to supplement dwindlingnative oyster stocks — andstimulate it did! Innovativeoystermen acquired tidelands,leveled beaches and built dikes,creating the best environment fornative Olympia oysterpropagation, growth and survival.

Production of Olympiaoysters rose steadily until pulpmill effluent destroyed waterquality in crucial growing areas.To sustain the industry, thehardier Pacific oyster (Crassostreagigas) was introduced from Japanand today dominates West Coastoyster culture. In the meantime,oystermen launched an exhaustivecampaign to force pulp mills toclean up their effluent. The resultsof their efforts can be seen in therestoration of growing areas andthe commercial breeding ofremnant native stocks, bringingabout a rebound of Olympiaoysters in many bays and inlets.

Over the past three decades,modern private hatcheries haveevolved and revolutionized theindustry. Hatcheries provide thelarvae and seed of a variety ofshellfish species to farmers alongthe West Coast.

From Alaska to California, avariety of shellfish species arecultured using a wide array ofsystems and marketed in manyforms, including live, shucked,smoked and frozen.

Washington state dominatesthe West Coast shellfish industrywith expansive culture of Pacificoysters in the coastal bays of

Back

grou

nd

Willapa and Grays Harbor. Theseare predominantly sold as freshshucked meat and, to a lesserextent, live in the shell. SouthernPuget Sound follows close behindthe coastal region withtremendous crops of Pacificoysters and Manila clams (Tapesphilippinarum) being cultivatedin highly productive, nutrient-rich waters. Two species ofmussel (Mytilus trossulus and M.galloprovincialis) are cultured,suspended from rafts in TottenInlet in southern Puget Soundand Penn Cove in northern PugetSound. Hood Canal, on theeastern boundary of the OlympicPeninsula, is a prolific shellfishfjord with expansive beds ofPacific oysters and Manila clams.These beds support numerousfamily farms and abundant tribaland recreational shellfishharvests. Samish, Portage andLummi bays and the San JuanIslands in northern Puget Soundare home to a segment of smallerclam and oyster farms, mostlyfamily-owned.

Washington state shellfishgrowers also culture a variety ofspecialty oysters targeted at theraw bar trade. These include theKumamoto (Crassostreasikamea), Eastern (Crassostreavirginica), European flat (Ostreaedulis) and native Olympiaoysters. Washington also has aburgeoning geoduck clam(Panopea abrupta) cultureindustry, with substantial cropscurrently under cultivation.

California followsWashington in production.Tomales Bay supports a growinglittleneck clam and bay mussel

THE PACIFIC COASTSHELLFISHINDUSTRY

Intertidal oyster longlines in Willapa Bay,off Oysterville, Washington.

Rack and bag culture of single Pacificoysters in Tomales Bay, California.

Young geoduck clams are carefully plantedby hand in predator-exclusion tubes nearStretch Island, Washington.

11

Bottom-cultured Pacific oysters provideenvironmentally unique habitat thatsupports a diversity of marine flora andfauna such as this bed in Samish Bay,Washington.

Above: Hand harvest of Manila clams inOakland Bay, Washington.

Seeding Manila clams in Samish Bay,Washington.

Left: Cleaning suspended oyster culturelantern nets in Alaska.

Intertidal bag culture of single Kumamotooysters in Totten Inlet, Washington.

Oregon’s shellfish cultureefforts are focused primarily onthe Pacific oyster. Growers inCoos, Winchester, and Yaquinabays in the south and centralparts of the state farm Pacificoysters on the bottom, on stakes,suspended from rafts, and in bagssuspended from floating longlines.

Tillamook Bay in the north,once a leader in bottom culturedPacific oysters struggles today tosurvive the impacts of expansiveburrowing shrimp populations.Also in the north, Netarts Baysupports a small but expanding

single oyster industry, and ishome to one of the West Coast'slargest oyster hatcheries.

Alaska supports a hardy lotof family farms pioneeringshellfish culture in the lastfrontier. Alaska growers produceoutstanding half-shell Pacificoysters on suspended culturesystems in their cold, pristinewaters. Most seed is supplied tothe industry by the newQutekcak Shellfish Hatchery inSeward. Small amounts ofmussels (Mytilus edulis), nativelittleneck clams (Protothaca

staminea) and rock scallops(Crassadoma gigantea) are alsocultured in Alaska.

Hawaii, while not yet asignificant player in cultivationof shellfish, has become a cruciallink in West Coast farming. Twoof the West Coast’s largestproducers have seed nurseries inKona, taking advantage of thetropical climate to boost seedproduction. This practice isparticularly beneficial for seedfrom the Pacific Northwestduring that region’s cool, slow-growing winter months.

This publication was funded inpart by Washington Sea GrantProgram, University ofWashington, (NOAA Award No.NA76RG0119, Project A/FP-7),the National Sea Grant CollegeProgram and National MarineFisheries Service, NationalOceanic and AtmosphericAdministration. The viewsexpressed herein are those of theauthor(s) and do not necessarilyreflect the views of NOAA or anyof its sub-agencies.

Oyster harvest tubs and a Willapa Baysunrise.

Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association120 State Avenue NE, PMB #142Olympia, WA 98501360.754.2744Fax: 360.754.2743Email: pcsga@olywa.netWeb: www.pcsga.org

Front and back covers, pages 2, 3, 4, MichaelMathers. Page 4, clams, Robyn Ricks, WashingtonSea Grant Program. Page 5, top, Phil Schofield;bottom, Bill Dewey. Page 6, top, Bill Dewey; bottom,Brett Dumbauld, Washington Department of Fishand Wildlife. Page 7, top, Michael Mathers; bottom,John Faudskar, Oregon Sea Grant Program;scallop, Robyn Ricks, Washington Sea GrantProgram. Page 8, Bill Dewey. Page 9, Bill Dewey,except geoduck, Pacific Shellfish Institute. Page 10,muscle, Taylor Shellfish; intertidal longlines andyoung geoduck clams, Bill Dewey; rack and bagculture, John Finger, Hog Island Oyster Company.Page 11, Bill Dewey, except lantern nets in Alaska,Ray RaLonde, Alaska Sea Grant Program.