07/31/06 Oyster Farmers face Heat

The heat wave we have been experiencing in the Northwest has been tough for many in agriculture but there is one,often overlooked segment of farming being devastated by heat, oyster farmers. Now you would think the little critters basking in the tepid waters of Puget Sound would fare better than a hot chicken or wilted lettuce but as the temptatures rise above 90 degrees bacteria prosper and bacteria combined with low tides can wreck havoc on an oyster farmer's crop. State Health officials have closed several oyster beds in the Hood Canal and Olympia area and are cautioning the public to refrain from eating raw oysters. In the last three weeks we have had the highest outbreak of illnesses attributed to raw oysters in nine years, over 50 people have been sickened. So no matter how enticing a cold beer and raw oysters sound, go for the beer but skip the oysters until the temperature drops .