Our Shellfish Beds

Where the Land Meets the Sea

Goose Point Oysters begin as microscopic larvae, which are carefully grown in specialized hatcheries and nurseries. As young seed oysters, they are then spread over our privately owned beds in the extensive intertidal mudflats of Willapa Bay, where they are exposed to the wide expanse and lunar tides of the Pacific Ocean.

Lying contentedly in the muddy reaches of the tidal estuary, the oysters have evolved the ability to straddle both the land and the sea. When the waters wash over them at high tide they pump nutrient rich seawater through their shells and filter out and feed on microscopic marine plants called phytoplankton. When the tide recedes, the oysters close down seal tight against the air as the tidal estuaries are transformed into mudflats. Oysters in the estuary take two to three years to reach maturity (or develop their full potential) at which time they are harvested by local oystermen, as they have been for more than 150 years.

A healthy estuarine ecosystem is essential for all species of marine life. With their ability to survive in this transitional ecosystem the colonies of oysters living in the waters close to shore attract and furnish food and refuge for many species of invertebrates, bringing significant ecological benefits to Willapa Bay.