BLAINE, Wash. – Blaine’s Drayton Harbor Oyster Company is looking toward a different type of oyster farming as it plans to expand its operations.
The Northern Light reports they are in the permitting process to begin off-bottom farming, which has been employed on the east coast of the U.S., Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Off-bottom farming employs floating mesh baskets to suspend the growing oysters in the water.
They hope the off-bottom system will provide more protection against poor water quality while also protecting eel grass beds, which are important habitat for marine life.
The company’s plans call for an off-bottom farm on the west side of Drayton Harbor, across from their current tideland farm off of Peace Portal Drive.