The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is developing its own shellfish hatchery to benefit both tribal and non-tribal shellfish operations in Puget Sound.

The tribe plans to raise shellfish and grow shellfish seed (larvae) to sell, said Kurt Grinnell, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe vice-chair.

The tribe leased the former Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife shellfish hatchery in Quilcene in late 2013 and started rearing 800 Pacific oysters in March.

The tribe is working in partnership with Troutlodge, a private salmon and shellfish aquaculture company, and Jones Farm, a shellfish farm on Lopez Island. The tribe and its partners are working together because water chemistry has been an issue when sourcing seed from one location.

“We lower risk by partnering up with others,” Grinnell said.

Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe shellfish manager Kelly Toy, hatchery manager Brian Williamson and Jamestown councilman Kurt Grinnell look over some of the upwelling silos full of oyster seed. More pictures can be found by clicking on the photo.

The primary focus will be growing manila clams, geoduck and oysters, from seed to adult, plus grow the food (algae) needed to feed everything, as well as selling seed to others.

“We want to create our own larvae and broodstock here and provide seed to others,” he said. “We’ve had a need for something like this for a long time and have it accessible to all the tribes. We’re going to make this work, we just have a long ways to go. There is such a demand for seed and everything we grow will be sold.”