Washington Department of Ecology Reverses Course

Rescinds Oyster Bed Pesticide Permits

In a victory for proponents of sustainable aquaculture,and largely to due to vociferous public outcry, Washington environmental regulators have overturned their decision to permit aerial spraying of pesticides on oyster beds in Willapa Bay and Grays Harbor As previously reported in Washington’s Department of Ecology had issued a permit for pesticide spraying in those areas with the goal of killing a type of shrimp that burrows into shellfish beds. The burrowing shrimp cause oysters to suffocate in softened shellfish beds.

Public outcry, including from IFR/PCFFA led Ecology officials to meet with the Willapa-Grays Harbor Oyster Growers Association and ultimately cancel the pesticide spraying permit. “We’ve heard loud and clear from people across Washington that this permit didn’t meet their expectations,” said Ecology Director Maia Bellon, in a statement regarding their new decision.

Part of the public outcry was in regard to the pesticides containing neurotoxic chemicals, which led restaurant owners and environmental groups to object to the permits. The pressure from these restaurant owners and environmental groups played a substantial role in the decision reversal, according to the President of the Oysters Growers Association in a letter.