Washington state officials withdraw shellfish spray permit

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington's Department of Ecology has canceled a permit to spray pesticides over shellfish beds in two areas, officials said Sunday.

The decision to halt the practice in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor is part of an agreement between the local oyster growers association and the state. The growers association submitted a letter to the Department of Ecology on Sunday, after environmental concerns were raised in news coverage.

The department reported hearing from residents across Washington state that the practice did not meet their expectations.

The pesticides were supposed to control burrowing shrimp in the oyster beds. The shrimp burrow into the shellfish beds, making the ground too soft for oysters, causing them to suffocate.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/cc453b3729a04ff6a5364929bc422762/ecology-department-withdraws-permit-shellfish-spraying

[KT2000]

1. those of us in Washington

need to keep a close eye on aquaculture. By Executive Order (Gregoire) and some legislation, the aquaculture industry has been handed every shoreline in the state. That means they have first use of shorelines. They are suing in a couple locations where judges have found historical recreation sites to have precedence.

They want to put a geoduck farm in a location that is in the delta of a river under restoration for endangered fish, which is next to a wildlife refuge and another restoration site. They believe they have first use even though the refuge is 100 years old and the river restoration has already cost $11 billion.

They have already sprayed other pesticides in Willapa Bay so this is not the end. They will probably be back with another pesticide and the permit will go through.

[pnwmom]

2. Thanks for the info, KT2000. So this will be a never-ending battle. n/t

[KT2000]

3. yes - it is called the Shellfish Initiative

they are doing a pilot study now to determine if state owned shorelines will be included - as in state parks.

Taylor Shellfish is the big operator. Most of their product goes to China and other Asian countries. By the way - they are exempted from a lot of state taxes too. Also, if you know people who live in counties that are on Puget Sound, they have likely been forced to have inspections and repairs done on their septic systems - for the aquaculture. They may also have to pay $30 a year to the state to have their septic system, if it makes it out of the legislature this session.

[pnwmom]

4. So Asian seafood ends up in our stores and we ship ours off to Asia.This is nuts! n/t

[wordpix]

5. "The pesticides were supposed to control burrowing [native] shrimp in the oyster beds"

WTF? They want to spray a neurotoxic pesticide on native shrimp? Glad the residents raised a fuss.

Don't people understand all this cancer and neuromuscular disorders are often caused by poisons in the environment? I guess not.