Gulf oil spill may be boon to Northwest oyster fisherman

Rolf Boone | The Olympian

The oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico could turn into a boon for Puget Sound shellfish companies.

Inquiries about Puget Sound oyster supplies have started to come in from the southeastern United States, a result of the massive oil spill in the Gulf, which is on the verge of becoming the worst in U.S. history.

Representatives of Taylor Shellfish Farms in Shelton, Coast Seafoods in South Bend and National Fish & Oyster Co. of Olympia say it is too early to tell how the oil spill will affect Puget Sound oyster growers, but if the spill widens, the increase in business volume and prices could be similar to that experienced after hurricanes Rita and Katrina. In some cases, oysters rose $4 to $5 a gallon after Katrina.

Read the complete story at theolympian.com

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