A guide to the shellfish aquaculture permitting process in Washington State.
This guide is for those interested in learning about the aquaculture permitting processes for growing oysters, mussels, clams, geoduck, or other shellfish commercially in Washington State. Some steps may not apply to you based on the location of your farm, these steps will specify if you should skip them.
The designation of your proposed onshore aquaculture site, be it on public or private land, will determine how you continue in this process.
If you intend to use public land, you should follow the order of this walkthrough. Step 7 can be done before, during, or after submitting the Joint Aquatic Resources Permit Application (JARPA) form. Step 8, however, must be done after you have submitted your JARPA form.
If you intend to use private land, Step 5 is not required. You must complete Step 7 before you submit your JARPA form and Step 8 after submitting the JARPA form. For private land, consider conducting a formal tideland survey and recording it with the applicable local government.
The links below provide a general overview of the steps to acquire a commercial shellfish aquaculture permit. Depending on location, some steps may not apply to your project.
This webpage was created with the support of NOAA partners and agencies including staff members and representatives from Tribes, shellfish farmers and operators, the Washington State Department of Health, Washington State Department of National Resources, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, Washington State Department of Ecology, and the Army Corps of Engineers. Thank you to everyone who reviewed the draft for language, suggested edits, and supported our efforts to create this Washington State shellfish permitting overview and guide.
A special thank you to the NOAA Staff and Pathways Interns who worked on this project including Grace Adams, Lucia Davids, and Jessica Lechtenberg. As well as NOAA Fisheries staff Dan Tonnes, Teri King, Jeff Bash, Penny Ruvelas, Donielle Stevens, Alix Smith, and Ruth Howell.
Teri King
Regional Aquaculture Coordinator - Oregon and Washington
West Coast Region
Office: (360) 207-1724
teri.king@noaa.gov
