Pacific Northwest oyster industry
Thousands of years prior to European settlement of the Pacific Northwest of the United States the native oyster species Ostrea lurida had been established as a valuable dietary resource for indigenous people living on the coastal waters. European settlers who began to colonize the Pacific Northwest developed an acquired taste for shellfish, especially oysters, a delicacy that were considered to be a symbol of wealth. In the early history of the Pacific Northwest, people satisfied their hunger for shellfish by harvesting naturally occurring oyster beds. It was initially believed that the populations of indigenous oysters were sufficient to supply both tribal and commercial harvest. A marketable industry was created on the export of oysters and soon exploitation of harvesting had depleted the natural oyster beds in California and Oregon. As a result, Washington state became the main supplier to areas along the coast which had failed to establish any conservation practices. Noticing the economic value and decline of natural availability, farmers began efforts to cultivate oysters to try to satisfy demand. Over the years the oyster industry of the Pacific Northwest has gone from extremely lucrative to completely nonexistent, but still the industry has been able to adapt and survive. Native American history For the centuries prior to the arrival of European settlement, the native tribes inhabiting the Pacific coast consumed animals from the sea. For example, the native people known as the Siwash or "Fish Eaters" included oysters as a main staple in their diet. Evidence of this claim has been proven by the discovery of large piles of discarded shells known as "middens" with specimens dating back 3000–4000 years. The native peoples use of the oyster was a respectful practice and their appreciation for the oyster can be found in their mythology. One legend states that humankind colonized the planet after being able to free themselves from the inside of a sealed oyster. As more white immigrants began to establish settlements along the coast the native people realized the value of oyster and began to harvest them to trade with their new neighbors. In cities such as Tacoma and Seattle it was not uncommon to see natives selling baskets of harvested oysters to the white settlers. Although evidence shows native people engaged in harvesting of oysters, the amount extracted was not great enough to deplete the naturally occurring oyster beds. Washington State Early European settlers who arrived in Washington were fueled by Manifest Destiny and held the belief that all natural resources were a gift from God. This idea allowed exploitation in the harvest of natural resources such as oysters, lumber, and salmon. The proof of this mismanagement is shown in the lack of conservation efforts taken by oyster harvesters in the early days of the industry boom. After the native oyster beds of Northern California and Oregon had been depleted, sailing ships began to travel to Willapa Bay which contained vast acreages of native oysters that had been allowed to grow for many years. Between the years