With a newly constructed retail/packing shed, Westcott Bay Shellfish Company is finally open for the summer 2016 season. The oyster farm quietly opened over Memorial Day weekend to overwhelming support from neighbors, islanders, and first-time visitors.

It has been a challenging yet rewarding undertaking for Erik and Andrea Anderson, who purchased the defunct sea farm in 2013. The Andersons shared the fear of many islanders that San Juan Island’s only shellfish farm would forever be lost when it was put up for sale. The first (and most important) goal for the Andersons upon closing on the property was to reseed the abandoned tidelands with Pacific oysters, Manila clams and Mediterranean mussels. They shored up the disintegrating existing structures in order to function at a bare minimum so they could be open to the public their first two summers. They also undertook the daunting task of resurfacing the 450-foot long pier, installing new floats, and building a new tank shed to house their harvested shellfish, as well as incubating seed.

In September of 2015 the old and much beloved retail shack came down (who doesn’t remember the “Duck!” sign upon entering the short, sloped building to pay?), and work began on the new structure. Local builder Tom Nolan of Island Shelter Co., and his exceptionally talented crew worked at an impressive pace in order to have the new retail/packing shed open by Memorial Day weekend. And it is beautiful. There are also new communal picnic tables nestled along the cleaned-up shores for people to shuck their own oysters and enjoy the views.

Westcott Bay Shellfish Co. is a working farm with an incredible team of employees, some of whom have been with the farm for decades, that has given its heart and soul to the vision of creating a sustainable and successful aquaculture farm. The Andersons are humbled and extremely appreciative of the support and enthusiasm that the island community has shown.

The farm is open daily 11:00AM – 5:00PM until mid-September. People are welcome to bring their own beverages to sip while they shuck & slurp. The farm provides complimentary shucking knife, hot sauces and lemon juice on the tables, as well as a laid back vibe. Additionally, there is a limited supply of specialty mignonette/cocktail sauces for purchase. People are encouraged to bring their own plates, cups, utensils if they wish for more than the paper towels and buckets that are provided.

The farm is located at 904 Westcott Drive, Friday Harbor. 360.378.2489. www.westcottbayshellfish.com Hours: 11-5 daily