Taylor Shellfish Farms
For over a century, Taylor Shellfish has been pouring itself into farming sustainable shellfish in the Pacific Northwest, starting with the Olympia oyster.
The company’s founder Justin Taylor eyed the Puget Sound as the perfect place to establish a “thriving shellfish farming community,” an idea that has driven the supplier ever since. Innovation and sustainability live side-by-side for the business, which is always looking for creative aquaculture methods that will keep the ecosystem intact well into the future.
“Sustainability is not only important to our day-to-day operations, but also to planning for our future. It is our goal to protect the environment that our livelihoods depend on so we can continue to farm the tidelands for another 120 years,” the company said on its website.
Clean water is top-of-mind for Taylor, which is why the company consistently strives to address issues like ocean acidification.
“We have been on the forefront of the issue since it surfaced in our shellfish hatcheries a few years ago, decimating our baby oysters,” the company noted. “Our efforts have even attracted international attention and Bill Dewey, senior director of public affairs, was invited to speak about ocean acidification in front of the United Nations last year.”
Taylor Shellfish products are certified by third-party sustainable agriculture certifier Food Alliance, and its clams, mussels, and oysters are considered “Green” or “Best Choice” by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program.
Community sponsorship and involvement also factors largely into the firm’s values, it said.
“We are committed to supporting the communities in which we farm and work. We believe that supporting the events and activities of community and conservation organizations contributes to the quality of life in our communities and enhances the environment. In addition to sponsorships, we also award grants,” Taylor Shellfish noted on its website.
As of 2019, the company was working with the Nature Conservancy evaluating the best gear types and growing practices that will aid ecosystem recovery in Washington. Taylor also merged with fellow shellfish farmer Ekone Oyster Co. in 2017.
