Our Story
Shoalwater Bay Indian Tribe is a coastal tribe of Washington State that has a deep connection to the Willapa Bay and the oysters that were harvested by its many generations. Shoalwater Seafood was launched with a unique partnership between the Tribe’s Willapa Bay Enterprises and Jaime Courtney owner of Washington State Seafood, a Hood Canal oyster farm, in 2019 to start a working farm on the Tribes tidelands in Willapa Bay. Using Flipfarm technology and longline off-bottom culture, Shoalwater Seafood produces our signature Toke Point and Bay Center oysters.
FlipFarm technology has enabled the Tribe to cultivate oysters in areas previously unsuitable for traditional farming due to the rise in ghost shrimp populations, which have turned the ground too muddy for oyster growth. Flipfarm is a surface culture style of growing oysters, which eliminates the need to be on the bottom and give the oysters a nice tumbled effect. Longline off-bottom culture adds another layer of diversification to the farm where several tideland areas have a higher energy with wind and current.
Shoalwater Seafood continues to expand its operations to bring you the best bouquet oysters to your doorstep or favorite restaurant.