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It would be the largest geoduck farm in Pierce County. Here’s where it stands

Stories by Tacoma News Tribune journalists, with AI summarization

This list of stories illustrates how the debate over the proposed geoduck farm in Burley Lagoon involved concerns about the environment, noise and debris. Many residents raised worries about plastic pipes, nets on the shore and light from night work. After years of conflict, Taylor Shellfish and residents arrived at a settlement. Local nonprofits and the company worked out steps to watch and protect the lagoon as part of the resolution. The operation will be the largest geoduck farm in Pierce County.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

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NO. 1: RESTRICT COMMERCIAL SHELLFISH HARVESTING, PENINSULA RESIDENTS ASK GOVERNMENT LEADERS

Peninsula residents sent a clear message to Pierce County Council members at a shoreline hearing Monday: | Published February 3, 2015 | Read Full Story

NO. 2: A PIERCE COUNTY OYSTER FARM WANTS TO RAISE GEODUCKS. NEIGHBORS ARE RAISING THE ALARM

“That lagoon has a long history of raising some really high-quality shellfish.” | Published November 10, 2021 | Read Full Story by Kerry Webster

NO. 3: MAY IS A BIG MONTH FOR THIS GEODUCK FARM PLANNED FOR PIERCE COUNTY. HERE’S WHAT TO KNOW

May will be a fateful month for the long-proposed Burley Lagoon Geoduck Farm, columnist Carly Vester writes. | Published April 30, 2023 | Read Full Story by Carly Vester

NO. 4: IT WOULD BE THE LARGEST GEODUCK FARM IN PIERCE COUNTY. NEIGHBORS ARE FIGHTING IT

“It will push Burley Lagoon to its tipping point,” one resident said. | Published May 26, 2023 | Read Full Story by Alexis Krell

Longtime resident Karen McDonnell and her neighbors are concerned about a proposal by Taylor Shellfish Farms to start an operation to plant and harvest geoducks in the Burley Lagoon. The proposal would call for the placement of 40,000 PVC pipes per acre, covering 25.5 acres, which residents feel would harm the natural beauty of the estuary, among other impacts. By Drew Perine

NO. 5: IT WOULD BE PIERCE COUNTY’S LARGEST GEODUCK FARM. LOCALS FOUGHT IT. NOW THE STATE DECIDES

Taylor Shellfish Farms applied for permits to raise geoducks in the lagoon in 2014. | Published December 26, 2024 | Read Full Story by Julia Park

A view from above shows the northeast tidelands of Burley Lagoon in 2021. The area has plastic predator exclusion nets covering parts of it, according to Burley Lagoon resident Janey Aiken.

NO. 6: THE FIGHT OVER PIERCE COUNTY’S LARGEST GEODUCK FARM IS OVER. HERE’S WHAT’S NEXT

After years of conflict and a day and a half of mediation, the shellfish company and residents of the lagoon have a plan. | Published April 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Julia Park

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.