Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association

Get ready for the 78th Annual Shellfish Conference and Tradeshow!
Hosted by the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association and Pacific Coast Section of the National Shellfisheries Association. Happening September 9th - 12th at the Lynnwood Event Center in Lynnwood, WA. Register now for early bird rates!

Learn more and register: https://pcsga.org/events/annual-shellfish-conference-tradeshow/

Annual Shellfish Conference & Tradeshow The PCSGA and NSA-PCS Shellfish Conference and Tradeshow is an opportunity for growers, researchers, agency stakeholders, industry partners and students to explore new research findings, consider public policy issues facing the shellfish industry, and to share stories and learn from each others' exp...

A fantastic and informative morning at Chelsea Farms with the Department of Ecology! Huge thanks to Chelsea Farms for the warm welcome and to all the shellfish growers who joined us to share their wealth of knowledge. A great tour showcasing the dedication and hard work behind shellfish farming!

Would you or someone you know be interested in participating in the PCSGA and Pacific Coast Section of the National Shellfisheries Association 78th Annual Conference and Tradeshow? Now is the perfect time to submit your presentation titles! Click on the link in the comments!

Yesterday, Taylor Shellfish, National Fish and Oyster, Little Skookum Shellfish, staff from the WA Department of Natural Resources, and the Squaxin Island Tribe came together for our bi-annual beach cleanup. 💪 🌊 A huge thank you to all the growers for removing debris from our shorelines, PSI for volunteering, National for donating coffee, Chris for providing delicious food, and DTG for donating recycling dumpsters. We look forward to our next beach cleanup in the fall!

One month ago, the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association's SLURP event made waves! We thank our exceptional sponsors: K&L Gates, SEAPA, Nordlund Boat Co., Plauche and Carr, and AgWest. Their support was instrumental in raising crucial funds for our beach cleanups and making the day a memorable success. We couldn't have done it without them!
Here's to cleaner beaches and more fantastic events to come!

Shell-ebrate with us NEXT Sunday at SLURP!
Don't miss out on the extravaganza-grab your tickets now! Cold drinks, mouthwatering bites, and funky beats await! We can't wait to see you there!

Ticket link in the comments!

Dive into the shellfish extravaganza at SLURP! Join us on Sunday, April 21st, from 1 pm to 5 pm for an unforgettable shellfish, wine, and beer-tasting event. Tickets are available now in the bio – don't miss out on the fun!

Drumroll Please! Introducing the winners of our February and March Ecosystem Services Photo Contest!

February Winner: Rebecca Cohen captures Buoy Ecosystem (photo 1), "Opportunistic marine organisms using an aquatic farm marker buoy as the perfect place for a micro-ecosystem. This was during a night tide and the colors were gorgeous."

March Winner: Drew Babare showcases the remarkable Oyster Habitat (photo 2) "Oyster habitat doubles as a nursery for fish eggs and sea slugs. Shown here at low tide, as a female lays her eggs amongst an already thriving bed of roe."

Congratulations to these talented winners!

Don't miss your chance to win $200! Submit your best aquaculture-related ecosystem service photo by April 15th. Email your picture and a short caption to [email protected]. Good luck!

Get ready to groove at SLURP! Olympia's finest funk band, Groove Lab Funk is bringing the beat on April 21st. Don't miss out – grab your tickets now for a day of funky tunes, delicious shellfish bites, fine wines, and ice-cold brews!

Click the link in our bio or check the comments below for tickets!

SLURP 2024 tickets are LIVE! Join us on April 21st at the Port of Olympia for a flavor-packed day of local wines, brews, bites, and the ultimate oyster experience! Don't miss out - snag your tickets now! Link below and in the bio. We can't wait to see you there!

https://www.ticketsignup.io/TicketEvent/SLURP2024

Last week, PCSGA members united to take on Washington D.C., engaging in discussions with representatives about both national and local West Coast aquaculture issues. Grateful for the dedication and hard work our members contribute to enhance and strengthen the shellfish community!

Image 1: PCSGA with Congressman Jared Huffman

Way to go team!

We are incredibly proud of our grower member, Marilyn Sheldon from Northern Oyster Co., for being invited as Marie Gluesenkamp Perez's guest at tonight's State of the Union address in Washington, D.C. Not only does she represent shellfish growers and a family business, carrying on a legacy, but she also embodies the dedication of hardworking women in aquaculture. We are immensely proud and thrilled for Marilyn!

Perez announces peninsula shellfish grower as SOTU guest WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez announced Wednesday that local shellfish grower Marilyn Sheldon will be her guest at Thursday evening’s annual State of the Union address in

Meet our February grower member spotlight:
Lilliwaup Oyster Co!
Jim and his dedicated partners have been embarking on the exciting journey of aquaculture since last Fall. They've been dedicated to learning, connecting with fellow growers, and cultivating exceptional oysters. Jim finds joy in working with the remarkable marine environment every day. We're fortunate to have Lilliwaup Oyster Co. as valued members of PCSGA!

Submit your best aquaculture-related ecosystem service photo by February 15th for a chance to win $200! Open to all!!
Email [email protected] with your picture and a short caption. Don't miss out! Cash prizes await!

Calling all shellfish enthusiasts and advocates for healthy waters!
Interested in becoming a sponsor for South Puget Sound's, highly anticipated annual shellfish extravaganza- SLURP?

We're seeking passionate partners to join us in April! Check out the link for sponsorship details: https://pcsga.org/slurp/
Let's come together and make SLURP 2024 an experience to remember!

Harvesting dreams as the sun sets on another year. Wishing fellow shellfish growers a prosperous and joyful 2024 journey ahead!

‘Tis the season for late-night harvest and holiday hustle! 🦪🌙🌊

Featured member:

Harvesting geoducks is no job for the weak! 💪🌊

Throwback to a farm visit at the wonderful .farms

Grateful for the simple joys of life - like the beauty of oysters on the water and the amazing PCSGA community that makes it all possible.

Where the grind meets the tide.
Here’s to hard-working shellfish growers making waves and cultivating greatness.

Wishing everyone a great weekend!

Featured Member:

Embracing Native American Heritage Month by featuring the incredible members of the Suquamish Tribe!

For over a millennium, shellfish has been a cornerstone of economic prosperity and cultural richness for Pacific Northwest tribes. The Suquamish Tribe’s pivotal role in shellfish operations is vital to PCSGA. Let's come together to honor and celebrate Indigenous cultures and communities, acknowledging their enduring strengths and traditions that persist to this day.

Bivalve beauties. Wishing all our fellow shellfish farmers a shucking good weekend ahead! 🌊

Featured Member:

Last week shellfish farmers from all across South Puget Sound participated in our bi-annual beach clean up. Shellfish crews and staff from the WA Dept. of Natural Resources, Squaxin Island Tribe, and Nisqually Indian Tribe went out on 14 boats to search the tidelands for marine debris. They covered almost 70 miles of shoreline and removed approximately 46.5 cu yards of debris from the marine environment. Thank you to all those who participated!

Congrats to our October Ecosystem Services Photo Contest Winner: Jackie Dexter!

"This photo depicts how aquaculture gear, a cage holding oysters ready for market, can provide structure for a myriad of organisms. These are squid egg sacks from 30’ feet down in Drayton Harbor, the last inlet before BC Canada."

You can submit your photos for the November competition now until Nov 15th.
A $200 prize will be awarded each month to the photo that best illustrates ecosystem services.
You can submit by emailing your photo, a description of the eco service provided, your name and mailing address, to [email protected] or post on instagram with the hashtag

Shellfish culture plays a vital role in providing natural ecosystem services to all living things in our marine environment. Ecosystem services are the beneficial ecological processes or outcomes which result from shellfish farming that we often take for granted.
Such services include:
Improved water quality by filtration
Habitat creation
Coastline stabilization and buffer from storm surge
Protection for marine animals and nursery refugee for early-stage life
Forage opportunities
Nutrient cycling
Carbon sequestration

We had a blast at over the weekend. We talked to community members about the benefits of shellfish farming and played shellfish trivia!