The U.S. Department of the Interior ended a century-old practice of oyster farming in Drakes Bay when agency Secretary Ken Salazar ordered the eviction of a company that accounts for 40% of California’s oyster production.

The Drakes Bay Oyster Company, which sought a 10-year extension of its expiring 40-year lease during a long-running dispute, was given 90 days to end its operations in the 2,700-acre estuary at Point Reyes in Marin County.

The National Park Service intends to turn the estuary, home to thousands of endangered birds (more than 90 species) and a huge seal population, into the first federally-designated marine wilderness area on the coast outside of Alaska. For many, once the decision was made to establish the wilderness area, the oyster farm was problematic.

“National parks are not places where you authorize private use of public lands,” National Parks Conservation Association Associate Director Neal Desai told Reuters. Sierra Club Deputy Executive Director Bruce Hamilton agreed. “You can't put that many motor boats and that many exotic oysters and not have some harm.”  

While conservationists cheered Salazar’s decision, many area residents feared dire economic consequences for the community and mourned the loss of a treasured enterprise. The oyster operation was considered by many as an example of sustainable aquaculture and was cheered by the local foods movement. Farm owner Kevin Lunny was credited by locals with cleaning up “a real dive” after he bought the place in 2004, fully aware that his lease was up for renewal in 2012.

The area is home to more than a dozen historic dairy farms and cattle ranches, sheepherders and organic farmers.

“This is going to be devastating to our families, our community and our county,” Lunny told the Associated Press. “This is wrong beyond words in our opinion.”

California’s Democratic U.S. senators split on the decision, with Senator Dianne Feinstein expressing deep disappointment and Senator Barbara Boxer supporting the move.   

–Ken Broder

To Learn More:

Feds Boot Drakes Bay Oyster Co. from Pt. Reyes (by Peter Fimrite, San Francisco Chronicle)

Drakes Bay Oyster Company Denied Lease Renewal (by Jason Dearen, Associated Press)

Shuck and Awe: California Oyster Farm Loses to Environmentalists (by Peter Henderson, Reuters)

Farm Sold 40 Percent of State’s Oysters (by Janny Hu, San Francisco Chronicle)

Editorial: Point Reyes Oyster Farm’s Lease Should be Extended (Marin Independent Journal editorial)