Dr. Brett Dumbauld   The West coast shellfish culture industry represents oyster, clam and mussel growers from Alaska to California and generates an estimated $100 million dollars in gross annual sales. Nevertheless, domestic production does not meet national demand and this trade imbalance is expected to grow.
Oysters are farmed intensively on the west coast using a number of techniques like longlines and represent about 60% of the total value of farmed shellfish product  (more in .pdf format).	Oyster floats, Washington State