While shellfish farming has been an integral part of the rural character and economy and in Western Washington State for over a century it is not without its detractors. Changes in industry farming practices involving ropes, plastics , structures on the beaches or floating on the surface have drawn opposition from adjacent shoreline home owners. Some of the concerns raised are legitimate and others are fabricated to attempt curtail farming operations or get permits denied. Th e conflicts have increased in recent decades as adja cent shoreline properties have evolved from summer cabins and local residents who value the working waterfront and enjoy seeing the farming activities to year-round residences with new comers to the region who may or may not share those same values.
As the largest shellfish farming business in Washington State, Taylor Shellfish Farms has had it share of detractors. The company has a public affairs team that works to educate the public, various stakeholder groups and policy makers about shellfish aquaculture. Much of this work is coordinated with the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association and other shellfish growers.
Taylor Shellfish Farms employs a multifaceted approach to building social license. The company used to sell 95% of their products wholesale outside the state. Enlightened by public opinion polling that showed them that people who eat shellfish like them more they now have three retail stores and six oyster bars under the company name, they sell their products to a couple hundred local restaurants and have the company logo and shellfish themed truck wraps on all their delivery trucks and semi-trailers. They have transitioned a historic waterfront processing plant into one of their oyster bars. At that location they have incorporated a demonstration plot and educational kiosks where customers get to experience a working shellfish farm. These public facing facilities are profitabl e but more importantly that have dramatically increased public and political support for our business. Other company and industry efforts include tours, beach clean up events, shellfish themed festivals, Hill walks in Washington DC and Washington State, political fundraisers and product donations for ENGOs who support our efforts to protect water quality and shoreline environmental health.
Finally, Taylor Shellfish Farms strives to be a good neighbor. We are active in the communities where we farm and en courage our managers and employees to engage with neighbors and the community.