A free lecture by the director of a group concerned about the impact of aquaculture on the environment is planned Wednesday in Port Angeles and Thursday in Sequim.
“Industrial Shellfish Aquaculture — The History, the Problems, the Better Ways,” sponsored by Protect Peninsula’s Future will be at 6 p.m. both days. Wednesday’s talk will be in the Carter Room of the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St. Thursday’s discuss will be at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake St., Sequim
Laura Hendricks, the founding director of the Coalition To Protect Puget Sound, will discuss diseases and invasive plants and animals associated with the industry and impacts to native plants and animals.
The coalition, based in Burley, offers information about the impacts of shellfish aquaculture on the state’s marine systems.
Hendricks spoke against a development permit for a geoduck farm in Henderson Bay in Pierce County before the state Shorelines Hearings Board, which resulted in a denial of the permit in 2015 because of a lack of protection of eelgrass. The case was upheld by the state Appeals Court.
“As this industry has expanded in the state, industrial-sized sites cover large acres of the state’s shorelines,” said Darlene Schanfald, Olympic Environmental Council project coordinator for the Rayonier Mill-Port Angeles Harbor Hazardous Waste Cleanup Project, in a press release.
“State shorelines have been industrialized for geoduck and a variety of mollusks, often for Asian markets,” she said.
Along with actions the coalition has taken, Hendricks will review some of the information in the recently released book, “Toxic Pearl, Pacific Northwest Shellfish Companies’ Addiction to Pesticides?” written by M. Perle, a pseudonym. Copies of “Toxic Pearl” will be available at the presentations for purchase.
Hendricks has an MBA in economics and was a corporate consultant and analyst for more than 18 years, Schanfald said.
