Pierce County Shoreline Master Program Update, July 21 Meeting Video Available

Update 7/30: We see what we want when we want
As noted below, Chelsea Farms spoke before Pierce County about all of the barnacles, crabs, etc. which grew on their tubes used for geoduck planting. Neglected was  the reality that those tubes are only in long enough for those species to take hold, 12 to 18 months, after which the tubes are removed. Harvesting take place 3 years later, with the effects being described as nothing more than a storm, neglecting to point out that storms do not liquefy 3' of sediments.

Tubes in place on a Chelsea geoduck farm.

Waiting for barnacles, crabs and seaweed.

 

Where did all those barnacles,

little crabs and seaweed go?

The moonscape left from harvesting.

"Just a storm." Really?

 

 

Note: Next meeting August 4.

July 21, Pierce County's Community Development Committee was held during which numerous amendments to the Shoreline Master Program were considered, including those regarding aquaculture. The full meeting may be seen by clicking here. Various amendments may be found by clicking here. Not all amendments were able to be acted on.

Some of the highlights included:

While Taylor Shellfish and Chelsea Farms were opposed to the amendment 8 it was passed by the committee. One of the more interesting comments regarded how the Public Trust Doctrine would be considered by the county through the review made available by a Conditional Use Permit. Testimony begins at 35:00 with Taylor Shellfish speaking at 37:36.

Public testimony for amendment 9 which would effect aquaculture begins at 76:45.

Aesthetics and water quality should not

be cause for banning aquaculture.

Taylor Shellfish

Cumulative impacts analysis is too expensive

for small farmers, therefor should not be required.

Please, don't enact things, unless

it would help the industry.

Trout Lodge

Nobody contacted us.

So much life is created - 

- at least for a while.

 

Comment: We see what we want when we want

Chelsea Farm's representative spoke movingly about how much life is created from the PVC tubes used in geoduck cultivation. Seaweed, barnacles, and crabs all took advantage of the PVC tubes and netting. Even greater, flocks of geese were now present to take advantage of the seaweed growing on the artificial structures. And of course, there are the "baby geoducks" taking advantage of the tubes. However, what wasn't mentioned is what happens to all that life which took advantage of the tubes and netting when those structures are stripped from the tidelands. It points out the weakness in the studies which were performed by the University of Washington. They look at a single point in time and not the ongoing transformations which occur on regular cycles.

 

Little  homes for little critters for a little while.