Saturday, June 17, 2023

Taylor Shellfish Hearing Update: Delayed Again


Taylor Shellfish Oyster Barge

New Public Hearing Date: August 9, 1PM

Mason County Building 1, Shelton, WA
Attend or mail comments to: 
lviscusi@masoncountywa.gov

Taylor Shellfish has again requested, and been granted by Mason County, a delay of the public hearing on its proposed 50 acre project area in Oakland Bay. Within that area it is proposing to initially place a 9 acre floating structure to grow oysters. Local citizens are concerned over the growing cumulative impacts an approval would have. To the north, Burley Lagoon is also facing a similar industrial level project, this one being a 25 acre geoduck farm within the low flushing lagoon. There, an Environmental Impact Statement was required which is currently being appealed.

Pod of Orcas in Hammersley Inlet, 
later seen in Oakland Bay near Shelton.

In both areas, citizens are concerned about the impacts on native species, including Orcas. A letter posted in the July 15 edition of the Shelton-Mason County Journal rightfully pointed out the risks which anchor and suspension lines in this small  enclosed bay would present to one of Washington's icon species.


Cumulative impacts are real. Get involved. 

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