Although aquaculture has been subject to criticism for environmental issues, Taylor Shellfish Farms is taking the lead in the sustainability movement for the seafood world. Let me introduce you to Taylor Shellfish Farms.
Taylor Shellfish Farms
Taylor Shellfish Farms, located in Shelton, WA, is the largest producer of farmed shellfish in the United States. Under the leadership of the Taylor family, they are now entering into the 5th generation of family farmers. The farms specialize in growing clams, oysters, mussels, and geoducks. How is Taylor Shellfish Farms taking the lead in sustainability? It's stated crystal clear in their mission statement:
Our mission is to sustainably farm quality shellfish
from our nurseries to your table while being
active stewards of our marine environment.
All of the farms of Taylor Shellfish Farms in Washington State have been certified as sustainable. They have not only developed their own environmental codes of practice for the farms, but they are activists in environmental education. By educating the community and those who set regulations about the importance of clean water, Taylor Shellfish Farms will be able to maintain their successful farms for generations to come. They provide support for environmental research and are involved in a variety of groups including People of Puget Sound, Puget Soundkeeper, and Skagit Conservation Education Alliance.
Taylor Shellfish Farms is an excellent example of a socially sustainable company that markets their sustainability practices to their stakeholders. Their mission statement is directly tied to their sustainability goals, and their website does a fantastic job displaying their drive for a clean and healthy environment. By being active members in the community, Taylor Shellfish Farms is not only promoting positive environmental solutions, but they are also overcoming the criticisms that aquaculture may bring. Many companies make sustainability practices an afterthought, Taylor Shellfish Farms makes it a priority.Leave your thoughts on sustainable aquaculture.
Shellfish farmers rely on high quality water as an input to raising their crop. Grain farmers in the Midwest can raise great grain crops with poor water quality; it is the output of the grain growing system. Unfortunately, we export our poor quality water to the Gulf of Mexico via the Mississippi River, where fish farmers suffer as a result. I commend Taylor Shellfish Farms on being socially responsible in their practices. They look at their operation and ask, “How can I improve my footprint”. Too many people in grain production look at what their neighbors are doing and don’t spend enough time asking themselves how they can improve their footprint on water quality.
ReplyDeleteIt is so important for those in agriculture to look at the long term effects of their actions. The people down the river do not need to suffer poor water quality because of the actions taken by those upstream.
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