Oakland Bay permit application

Hearing Examiner has 120 days to issue decision

Matt Baide | May 04, 20230

A public hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. May 24 by the Mason County Hearing Examiner for Taylor Shellfish’s application for a permit to grow Pacific oysters and install a floating oyster bag array in Oakland Bay.

According to a notice of application and public hearing document from Mason County Community Development, the permit would allow Taylor Shellfish to use an estimated 9.1 acres of surface water. The 9.1 acres would be part of 50 acres of land on two underwater parcels in Oakland Bay.

The bags can contain thousands of oysters depending on whether the bags are used to produce seed oysters for planting, are sold to other growers or are grown for market, Taylor Shellfish Director of Public Affairs Bill Dewey told the Journal in an email.

The project has completed a habitat management plan, and a macroalgae and eelgrass study. The bags will be in the subtidal area of Oakland Bay between East Bell Road and Chapman Cove.

“Oakland Bay has proven itself for decades as a great bay for producing shellfish and we have a history of producing seed here,” Dewey wrote. “The site is located close to our FLUPSY (Floating upwell system) where most of the seed that will stock the floating farm will come from. The site also has been a historic log storage lease for Simpson so there is a history of floating structure in the water there. Also, with the system being low profile in the water and away from the shoreline it will have a minimal visual impact.”

Dewey wrote that the floating oyster bag system is a popular method used around the world.

“The system lends itself to mechanization, allowing the bags to be flipped encouraging shell development and healthy growth of the oysters,” Dewey wrote. “Growing oysters in a floating system also improves conditions for workers giving them a more normal work schedule. When we grow oysters on the beach it means workers’ schedules change every day with the tides and in the winter, it means working at night. With a floating farm, staff can work a more normal work schedule. Downsides? So far, we see only upsides based on our experience with them in British Columbia. One potential downside is that they are capital intensive to set up initially however those costs are quickly recovered in labor savings and increased seed quality and survival.”

The proposed development is reviewed under the applicable chapters of the Shoreline Master Program Resource Ordinance and Title 15 regulations. Anyone who wants to comment or ask questions about the proposal can email Mason County Community Development Planner Luke Viscusi at [email protected]. People can attend the hearing on Zoom or in person at 411 N. 5th Street, Shelton.

Taylor Shellfish has been using floating oyster bags for several years in British Columbia as Fanny Bay Oyster Co., according to Dewey. The bags will be there year-round, and the system can be moved if necessary to accommodate tribal fishing.

“The proposed farm will provide significant benefits to the company’s business operations, reinforce its position as a growing employer in Mason County, and continue to support a decades-long tradition of working to improve the bay’s water quality,” Dewey wrote. “Local design, manufacturing and operations of the new farm helps keep Taylor Shellfish growing, which benefits Mason County by continuing to provide the region quality jobs and growth opportunities for employees.”

A decision on the application will be made within 120 days, or by August, of the date of the completed application on April 11. Decisions are subject to appeal to the Washington State Shoreline Hearings Board.