Willapa Bay's Migratory Waterfowl told to "Eat Something Else "

"Go Eat Something Else Somewhere Else"

Brants Geese, Willapa Bay

courtesy of Chris Sidebotham

 

"Go eat something else, somewhere else." In stark terms, this is the response of the Willapa Bay shellfish growers to the migratory waterfowl who for over 1/2 of a century have been using Japanese eelgass as a food source on their migrations north and south.

 

Unhappy with spraying of Imazamox on shellfish beds only, where the problem was acknowledged to be an issue, they successfully convinced the Noxious Weed Board to declare Japanese eelgrass in all tidelands a noxious weed. Effective January 13 this change - made without any supporting scientific evidence and against the recommendation of the Weed Board's own advisory committee - will become law. [click here for comments, beginning on page 8]

Contact your state representatives and suggest they ask the Board to reconsider.

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