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Olympia Oysters

Olys, as Olympia oysters are affectionately called, are a small, potent oyster with a distinct coppery taste. Though few farm this oyster commercially, those who know them love them. Shown here is Betsy Peabody of the Puget Sound Restoration Fund and the hatchery and growing operation at Taylor Shellfish Farms in Shelton, Washington.

Smithsonian Magazine and Novus Select (2012)

Ostreola lurida, the native Olympia oyster.
Ostreola lurida, the native Olympia oyster.
Ostreola lurida, the native Olympia oyster.
Olympia oysters provide critical habitat for a variety of marine plants and invertebrates.
North Bay on Case Inlet in Puget Sound holds one of the highest density popultaions of the native Olympia oysters.
Betsy Peabody walks through a natural bed of Olympia oysters, North Bay, Case Inlet, Puget Sound.
Betsy Peabody, North Bay.
Olympia oyster advocate Jon Rowley chews a freshly shucked sample on Totten Inlet.
Oyster larvae at Taylor Shellfish's Quilcene Hatchery.
Raising oyster larvae requires lots of food. Taylor's Quilcene hatchery grows algae to feed the young oysters.
Taylor Shelfish's FLUPSY, Floating Upwelling System.
Marco Pinchot of Taylor Shellfish holds six-month-old Olympia oyster seed.
Marco Pinchot walks past old oyster dikes in Totten Inlet.
Culture bags are used at Taylor's Totten Inlet farm to keep young Olympia oysters from washing away in the tide.
L-R: Isaiah Halverson, Chad Cook and Russ Walker lift out culture bags of Olympia oysters on Totten Inlet.
Isaiah Halverson carries Olympia culture bags up the beach at Totten Inlet.
Keith Morris bags Olympia oysters in Taylor's processing plant.
Keith Morris bags Olympia oysters in Taylor's processing plant.
Olympia oysters are just a small percentage of the operation at Taylor's processing facility in Shelton.
Bill Taylor, vice president, Taylor Shellfish.
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