Why We Don’t Dredge — And Why That Matters
At Willapa Wild, we’re proud to farm oysters a different way. While we estimate that 98% of oysters in Willapa Bay come from farms that dredge the bay floor—a practice that tears up eelgrass beds and disturbs native habitats—we refuse to do it.
Instead, we hand-plant and hand-harvest every oyster. That may sound old-fashioned, but there’s a reason we do it: it protects the ecosystem, preserves eelgrass, and nurtures the conditions needed for native Olympia oysters to thrive.
Eelgrass is critical to the health of Willapa Bay. It provides shelter for juvenile fish, filters the water, and plays a vital role in carbon sequestration. And while Pacific oysters (which we grow) are largely indifferent to eelgrass, Olympia oysters are not. The health of native Olympia oysters is closely tied to the presence of eelgrass beds. When those beds are gone, so are the native oysters.
Willapa Wild vs. Dredge Farms: What’s the Difference?
| Feature | Willapa Wild | Dredge-Based Farms |
|---|---|---|
| Harvest Method | Hand-planted and hand-harvested | Dredged by mechanical rakes |
| Impact on Eelgrass | Eelgrass protected and restored | Eelgrass destroyed and displaced |
| Support for Native Species | Habitat supports Olympia oysters | Habitat often damaged or destroyed |
| Carbon Sequestration | Preserved via intact eelgrass | Severely reduced |
| Crab and Bird Habitat | Intact, healthy ecosystems | Buried crabs; disrupted food webs |
| Traceability | Full tide-to-table tracking via FreshTags™ | Often limited or unavailable |
| Environmental Restoration | Largest private eelgrass rehab project in the U.S. | No active restoration efforts |
Dredging also buries crabs, disrupts sediment patterns, and destroys forage areas for shorebirds. Even though it’s cheaper and easier, we believe dredging is the wrong path forward.
We are proud to be part of the largest privately funded eelgrass restoration and re-habitation project in United States history—right here in Willapa Bay.
And because sustainability doesn’t stop at the farm, our oysters are tracked using FreshTags™, which certify traceability from tide to table. You’ll always know exactly where your oysters came from, how they were grown, and when they were harvested.
When you choose Willapa Wild, you’re choosing oysters that are better for the bay and better for the future.