Why We Don't Dredge
Shellfish Systems
Why We Do Not Dredge
Dredging is a harvesting method. It is also a habitat decision. We chose a different path.
This page explains why Willapa Wild does not dredge for oysters. The short version is that we farm in a way that reduces disturbance, protects habitat structure, and produces a cleaner oyster. The longer version is below.
The point of the comparison is not to shame a method. The point is to clarify cause and effect. Different tools create different outcomes.
Framing
Our standard is low disturbance. If a method requires routine bottom disruption to be productive, it cannot be the backbone of a regenerative system.
Working definition
What Dredging Does
Dredging uses a dragged metal frame and bag to lift oysters from the bottom. It is efficient at collecting shellfish from large areas, and it has a long history in commercial harvest.
The tradeoff is that it disturbs the surface of the tidal flat. It moves sediment, reduces bottom structure, and can tear through eelgrass where it is present.
Our decision
Why We Chose a Low Disturbance System
We do not dredge for three core reasons. We want stable habitat. We want cleaner oysters. We want a farming model that improves over time instead of resetting the bay bottom repeatedly.
Eelgrass, stable sediment, and intact bottom structure are not background scenery. They are the operating system of the estuary. Low disturbance practices give that system a chance to stabilize.
Less bottom disruption means less suspended sediment. That translates into less mud inclusion, cleaner shells, and a more consistent eating experience.
Systems improve when you stop resetting them. Low disturbance farming allows small gains to stack year after year, especially in eelgrass recovery and sediment stability.
Fewer disruptive interventions means fewer unintended consequences. It also aligns more naturally with habitat oversight expectations over time.
The alternative
What We Do Instead
We farm with methods that reduce bottom contact and minimize disturbance. Our gear and handling choices are designed to keep oysters clean, keep sediment stable, and allow eelgrass to coexist where it can.
We avoid routine dragging across the bay floor. We prefer systems that keep oysters elevated or handled in a way that does not churn sediment.
Low disturbance only works if gear use stays clean. That includes containment, maintenance, and preventing debris from becoming part of the environment.
Materials
Why Single Use Plastics Do Not Fit the Standard
In any marine setting, materials matter. Plastic that is treated as disposable becomes debris. Our approach is to choose systems that can be maintained, recovered, and managed over time. The goal is durable use, not repeated loss.
Bottom line
Dredging Is Not Our Model
We do not dredge because we are building a system that values stability. That decision affects habitat, product quality, and the direction of the farm over decades. We would rather earn our efficiency through design and discipline than through repeated bottom disruption.
Farmer’s Note
The bay remembers what you do to it. When you farm in a way that preserves structure, you are not just producing oysters. You are building conditions that make next year easier, cleaner, and more stable than the last.
About the author
Antony Barran
Founder of Willapa Wild and steward of Oysterville Sea Farms. Focused on low disturbance shellfish farming systems that allow habitat recovery and stable sediment conditions over time.
- Dredging is an efficient bottom harvest method that disturbs sediment and bottom structure.
- Low disturbance farming prioritizes stability of eelgrass, sediment, and habitat complexity.
- Reduced sediment disturbance supports clearer water and cleaner shellfish.
- Material choices matter in marine environments because loss becomes debris.
- Regenerative outcomes are cumulative and depend on avoiding repeated system resets.