Originally published Monday, February 23, 2009 at 5:20 PM

Taylor Shellfish sues Wash. over geoduck harvest

Taylor Shellfish Co. is suing the Washington state Department of Natural Resources for not honoring a lease that would allow the company to harvest geoducks (gooey-ducks) on certain public lands.

SHELTON, Wash. —

Taylor Shellfish Co. is suing the Washington state Department of Natural Resources for not honoring a lease that would allow the company to harvest geoducks (gooey-ducks) on certain public lands.

The terms of the controversial lease were negotiated by outgoing state Lands Commissioner Doug Sutherland a day before he left office.

New Lands Commissioner Peter Goldmark did not sign the lease because he said the public was shut out of the process. His spokesman Aaron Toso said Monday the agency hadn't reviewed the lawsuit but looked forward to reaching a resolution.

The dispute involves state aquatic lands in Totten Inlet near Olympia.

Under the agreement negotiated with Sutherland, Taylor agreed to pay $630,000 in penalties for growing geoducks and clams on public lands without permission. In return, the company would get a five-year lease to harvest the shellfish it grew on those lands.

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Comments

This AP writer really missed this story. The previous settlement included Taylor dropping their claim of ownership of the land. Now that Goldmark... Posted on February 24, 2009 at 2:45 PM by Aquamarine. Jump to comment

Taylor needs a new consulting firm. Let Taylor pay the $800,000 backrent/fine; deduct the cost of their geoduck seed (~$90,000); let SeaGrant... Posted on February 23, 2009 at 8:47 PM by For my children. Jump to comment

Let me get this straight. Taylor Shellfish illegally uses public tidelands for over 10 years for millions in profits, and now they're costing... Posted on February 23, 2009 at 6:35 PM by soundmind. Jump to comment

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