Friends of Burley Lagoon

Burley Lagoon, WA — August, 2024 —  The fate of Gig Harbor’s Burley Lagoon hangs in the balance while community members uneasily await the decision of the Pierce County Hearing Examiner on whether a permit will be granted for a 25.5-acre industrial geoduck operation. If approved, it would likely be the largest geoduck site in Puget Sound, threatening marine habitats in this estuary, and setting precedent for continued expansion throughout the region.

A hearing in May 2023 before the Gig Harbor Land Use Advisory Commission (LUAC) resulted in the commissioners’ recommendation that Pierce County deny the Taylor Shellfish Burley Lagoon geoduck permit.

In the past small clams and oysters have been gently farmed in communion with the Burley Lagoon environment and surrounding neighborhood. However, a change in aquaculture management over the past decade has led to industrial practices and the extensive use of plastics, including predator exclusion netting that covers the natural feeding grounds of birds and marine life.

With $41.6 million dollars being spent restoring fish passage through Purdy Creek that flows into Burley Lagoon, it’s shocking the aquaculture industry would be allowed to use even more plastic gear and practices that further degrade the habitat of ESA listed Chinook salmon and other species in Burley Lagoon. The estuary supports multiple habitats, including salt marshes, wetlands, eelgrass beds, mudflats and more. They all provide critical habitat for marine species. Approval of the geoduck installation permits would intensify industrial aquaculture operations and would further disrupt the lagoon, the wildlife and the surrounding community.

Concerns persist about the geoduck monoculture’s impact on biodiversity since approximately 130,000 geoduck could be planted in plastic tubes per acre, monopolizing phytoplankton, the basic food source of other naturally occurring aquatic species. Advocates, professionals, scientists, and concerned citizens have diligently presented arguments to Pierce County against the permit issuance.

The broader implications of this decision extend beyond Burley Lagoon and impact aquatic species, recreational opportunities, and aesthetics throughout Puget Sound.

Community members are standing up against a powerful industry, and the decisions made today will impact future generations and the health of Puget Sound.

We’re counting on funding to make this fight possible. Donations can be made through this website on our donation page:

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