Puget Sound Shellfish
For over 75 years, Blau Oyster Co. has relied on Washington state's cool clean waters to grow the plump oysters that are as prized in the Northwest as salmon and orcas. But too much pollution from animal and human waste has been washing into Samish Bay in north Puget Sound, prohibiting shellfish harvests 38 days already this year.
Section:Picture story
In this June 17, 2011 photo, Adam Hernandez shovels oysters out of a truck bed for sorting at the Blau Oyster Co. Inc., on Samish Island, Wash.
Ted S. Warren Associated Press
Washington state is the nation's leading producer of farmed oysters, clams and other bivalves with about $100 million in annual sales. The recent downgrade of 4,000 acres of shellfish beds in Samish Bay because of fecal contamination means more days when shellfish beds can't be harvested, hurting the local economy and jeopardizing the much larger, decades-long effort to clean up pollution in Puget Sound, the nation's second largest estuary. It also was set back in the state's goal to increase 10,800 acres of harvestable shellfish beds by 2020.
Associated Press
In this June 17, 2011 photo, a sign on Samish Island, Wash., encourages visitors to clean up after their dogs.
Ted S. Warren Associated Press
"If the water quality isn't good, we can't be open," said Scott Blau, whose family has been farming in these tidelands 80 miles north of Seattle since 1935. Most of the harvest from the small business is shucked and ends up in stews or can be ordered pan-fried or raw at local restaurants; some oysters are sold in the shell as far away as Hong Kong and Singapore.
Associated Press
In this June 17, 2011 photo, Ismael Sosa shucks oysters at the Blau Oyster Co. Inc., on Samish Island, Wash.
Ted S. Warren Associated Press
The problems of Samish Bay highlight the greater challenges facing Puget Sound, Chesapeake Bay and other distressed watersheds, where cleanup is complicated by pollution from many varied and diffused sources, called nonpoint pollution, including farmland or stormwater runoff, agricultural activities, urban development, failing septic tanks, toxics and even pet waste.
Associated Press
In this June 17, 2011 photo, Ismael Sosa shucks oysters at the Blau Oyster Co. Inc., on Samish Island, Wash.
Ted S. Warren Associated Press
"If we can't fix it in Samish, we're in trouble," said Bill Dewey, who owns a clam farm in the bay and is a spokesman for Taylor Shellfish, which also has a farm there. "This is as classic as it gets for nonpoint pollution. (The governor) has put a stake in the ground here and said this is going to be an example."
Associated Press
In this June 17, 2011 photo, Paul Blau sits near bags of oyster shells at the oyster farm that has been operated by his family for more than 75 years on Samish Island, Wash.
Ted S. Warren Associated Press
Officials say the fecal contamination comes from many sources, including farm livestock waste, wildlife, pets and humans. The bacteria level is especially high when heavy rains cause additional runoff into the Samish River, which flows into the bay. Shellfish can accumulate bacteria or other harmful pathogens; eating contaminated shellfish can make people sick.
Associated Press
In this June 17, 2011 photo, Adam Hernandez, right, shovels oysters out of a truck bed so they can be sorted by, from left, Edgar Rodarte, Ismael Sosa, and Jaime Salazar, at the Blau Oyster Co. Inc., on Samish Island, Wash.
Ted S. Warren Associated Press
There's an effort underway to trace sources of the fecal contamination. But one focus of inspections will be landowners with animals, from commercial livestock operations to small hobby farms with a variety of animals such as pigs, goats or alpacas. "Animals generate manure. If that's properly managed, everything is fine," said Tom Eaton, the EPA's Washington operations director. "If they're allowed access to streams and creeks or the ground is not grassland but a muddy field, it's a lot more likely that it will get washed into the stream."
Associated Press
In this June 17, 2011 photo, Jaime Salazar sorts freshly harvested oysters, at the Blau Oyster Co. Inc., on Samish Island, Wash. Lately, too much pollution from animal and human waste has been getting into Samish Bay, closing shellfish harvesting for more than 35 days this year.
Ted S. Warren Associated Press
Eaton said EPA inspectors will look for animals with direct access to streams or properties that don't have sufficient buffers near streams. Some think authorities have been too lax. "The greater problem is lack of adequate enforcement and regulation," said Larry Wasserman, environmental policy manager for the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community. "Voluntary approaches aren't going to solve these problems."
Associated Press
In this June 17, 2011 photo, Paul Blau, left, and his son Steven pose for a photo at the oyster farm that has been operated by their family for more than 75 years on Samish Island, Wash.
Ted S. Warren Associated Press
Dan Berenston, natural resources manager for Skagit County Public Works, said the county and a coalition of agencies and groups have been inspecting septic tanks, monitoring water quality, and educating the public, as well as installing pet waste containers and portable toilets for birders, hunters, fisherman and other recreational users. The county got a $960,000 grant from the EPA last year to find and fix sources of fecal contamination. "I would not call it a failure," he said. "We are making progress. We just aren't making progress as quickly as we like."
Associated Press