Thursday, November 21, 2024
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Sunday, May 26, 2013
A Visit to Drake's Bay Oyster Farm, Epicenter of a California Food Fight
By Robert Thomas @ 5:19 PM :: 3537 Views

A Visit To Drake's Bay Oyster Farm, Epicenter Of A California Food Fight

by Robert Thomas, InverseCondemnation.com

Drakes_bay_11

When we originally posted about Drake's Bay Oyster Co. v. Salazar, No. 13-15227, an appeal now awaiting the Ninth Circuit's ruling (oral argument video here, key briefs here), we knew further research on the issue was in order, perhaps by making a site visit. Yesterday, we had the opportunity to do just that, and ascertain for ourselves whether there's room in the environmental community for what appears to be a pretty "green" business. As some of you know, I've been waylaid for the past few weeks, and it was the first day in many that I felt up to taking a field trip.

So off to Drake's Bay it was. Following are some photos, as well as a short video showing the processing line, and a longer video with background on the issues. 

Here is our initial post on the case with the complaint, and our follow up (about one of the amicus briefs filed by parties with impeccable environmental credentials). For a more personal side to this story, read this op-ed in today's Marin Independent Journal by one of the farm's long-time employees.

Drakes_bay_10

Drakes_bay_26

The small farm is tucked into a corner of one of the fingers of Drake's Estero.

Drakes_bay_14

The operation is pretty modest: a landing for the boat, a processing line, a retail counter, and a couple of residences.

Drakes_bay_15

Drakes_bay_04

Drakes_bay_07

Drakes_bay_19

Drakes_bay_02

Drakes_bay_01
View towards the mouth of the Estero.
Drakes_bay_12

Baskets of harvested oysters.

Drakes_bay_21
Drakes_bay_06

Drakes_bay_27

Bird's-eye view of the Estero and beyond, from Mt. Vision Road.

Drakes_bay_30
The road to Pt. Reyes is lined with these signs.

Drakes_bay_29
The irony. Unfortunately, a bridge en route to the farm now bears "environmental" graffiti as well.

Drakes_bay_24

Here's a short video of the processing line. The only sound you hear is the wind, which is pretty loud. We lowered the volume on this video about 90%, which gives you an idea of the actual volume. High-definition video here.

The Framing of an Oyster Farm - Drake's Bay Oyster Company from A Visual Record on Vimeo.

An excellent video linked from the Oysterzone blog
(which also has posted all of the legal briefs in this case).

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Build More Hawaiian Homes Working Group

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii News

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

What Natalie Thinks

Whole Life Hawaii