Our mission is to protect the habitat of Puget Sound tidelands from the underregulated expansion of new and intensive shellfish aquaculture methods. These methods were never anticipated when the Shoreline Management Act was passed. They are transforming the natural tideland ecosystems in Puget Sound and are resulting in a fractured shoreline habitat. In South Puget Sound much of this has been done with few if any meaningful shoreline permits and with limited public input. It is exactly what the Shoreline Management Act was intended to prevent.

Get involved and contact your elected officials to let them you do not support aquaculture's industrial transformation of Puget Sound's tidelands.

Governor Inslee:

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Geoduck Farming Expands Impacts on Puget Sound Tidelands

A new No Trespassing sign appears.
Concerns about tripping over the sandbags?

Recently over 100 sandbags were placed into the tidelands of Puget Sound. It's unclear where the sand came from, although nearby sources are obvious. In addition to the new structure, a 4X4 sign with a fresh "No Trespassing" sign has also appeared. Were the sandbags supposed to be the property line? (Where is that property line anyway?)

What the low tide revealed. +2 MLLW elevation? No.

 
As the tide receded it became apparent the sandbags were most likely related to a recently planted geoduck farm. Perhaps the sandbags were placed to divert the freshwater outflow from a nearby wetland. Or maybe they were intended to help "geoform" the area and through slowing the current create additional area for planting more geoduck. It may be they are to serve as a bulkhead to slow the wave energy crashing onto the tubes.

Whatever their purpose it is simply one more example of how geoduck farming continues to alter Puget Sound's tideland habitat and patterns of use which have existed for generations. For the growers' benefit. And with grow-out nurseries it is expanding into the higher tidal elevations.

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