Letter to the Editor

Say No to Geoduck on Burley Lagoon

Posted

I would like to present a business case against expanding shellfish farming, specifically geoducks, in Burley Lagoon.

Based on my six years of living on the lagoon, an approval for a proposed 25-acre expansion for Taylor Shellfish Farms makes no sense. In my experience, the company has been unresponsive to a number of calls and emails. Plastics are found throughout the lagoon. Excessive noise is produced harvesting at low tide. Lights flash into my home. There is a failure to pick up debris according to the schedule of the Army Corp of Engineers Lease, and safety concerns are ignored. I have offered my boat and time to show them the violations.

Residents of Burley Lagoon are now stakeholders because we have to be actively involved due to Taylor’s operational shortcomings. Any business or franchise that cannot execute their own operational guidelines included in the lease agreement should not be allowed to change or expand operations.

Geoduck farming is a major undertaking with noisy, heavy equipment. If you haven’t been to Burley Lagoon or visited one of our neighbors, the lagoon has high banks and sound amplifies over two miles away.

The end equation for Burley residents are increased property taxes for residents, Taylor Shellfish profits, and a majority of the product going to Asia.

Taylor has had many chances to be a good neighbor but the same issues are repeated year after year. Expanding Taylor’s operations on Burley Lagoon will only cause more operation shortfalls and unhappy stakeholders.

Carl Marlow, Gig Harbor


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