The shellfish industry claims that shellfish aquaculture “provides ecological functions” and “improves water quality”. Is this true?
A. No, this is false and misleading industry propaganda and public relations fraud. Shellfish and geoducks filter and consume phytoplankton and detritus, and excrete feces and pseudofeces as waste. Phytoplankton is an important aquatic plant and nutrient for a number of other aquatic species and is naturally present in the marine environment. The shellfish industry actually wants to install their operations in areas of planktonic abundance. In the wild, geoduck and other shellfish are stimulated to spawn due to increased water temperature and increased plankton blooms. So the argument: “shellfish clean the water” or “shellfish provide ecological services” are totally false and misleading statements. Removing phytoplankton from the water column is not “cleaning” the water at all. Shellfish filter everything out of the water column, including crab zoeas and fish eggs, and although this may temporarily clarify the water in the area of the shellfish farm, this can be harmful to other speci
Related Questions
- Why is the shellfish aquaculture industry moving into traditional and historic recreational and residential areas of South Sound?
- The shellfish industry claims that shellfish aquaculture "provides ecological functions" and "improves water quality". Is this true?
- What about the shellfish industry claim that shellfish aquaculture provides heathy protein for a growing population?
