The last oyster shuck
Drakes Bay Oyster Company in Inverness, California shut down after losing a long legal battle with the federal government.
The third-generation, family-owned oyster farm will be forced to shut its oyster shack and cannery on July 31 after losing a 19 month legal battle with the federal government. The Department of the Interior declined to renew the farm’s lease in efforts to restore the area, also known as Drakes Estero within the Point Reyes National Seashore, to a state of marine wilderness as designated by the U.S. Congress in 1976.
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- People gather for a ceremony during a celebration event at Drakes Bay Oyster Company in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- Ginny Lunny-Cummings, farm manager at Drakes Bay Oyster Company, wears a “keep on shucking” shirt during a celebration ceremony to recognize the company in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- A group of workers stand in their work boots during a celebration event at Drakes Bay Oyster Company in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- Workers listen to speakers during a celebration event at Drakes Bay Oyster Company in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- Bagpiper Terry Aleshire prepares to play his bagpipe during a celebration event at Drakes Bay Oyster Company in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- Ginny Lunny-Cummings, farm manager at Drakes Bay Oyster Company, carries a tray of oysters for a toast during a celebration ceremony to recognize the company in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- Joan Lunny, mother of Drakes Bay Oyster Company owner Kevin Lunny, holds an oyster in preparation of a toast during a celebration event at Drakes Bay Oyster Company in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- Drakes Bay Oysters Company owner Kevin Lunny kisses his wife Nancy after a toast with oysters during a celebration event at Drakes Bay Oyster Company in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- (L-R) Drakes Bay Oysters Company owner Kevin Lunny, his wife Nancy Lunny and production manager Jorge Mata lead an oyster toast during a celebration event at Drakes Bay Oyster Company in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- A worker separates oysters at Drakes Bay Oyster Company oyster shack in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- A sign is seen outside Drakes Bay Oyster Company oyster shack in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- Rob Martel (L) and Jim Emerson enjoy a plate of oysters at Drakes Bay Oyster Company in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- An employee offloads a bag of oysters from a boat at Drakes Bay Oyster Company in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- Crates of oysters are seen at Drakes Bay Oyster Company in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- Kevin Lunny, owner of Drakes Bay Oyster Company, embraces a woman after a celebration ceremony in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- An employee sprays water into bags of oysters at Drakes Bay Oyster Company in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- Customers stand in line to purchase oysters at Drakes Bay Oyster Company in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
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- Two customers carry an ice cooler full of oysters purchased from the oyster shack at Drakes Bay Oyster Company in Inverness, California July 31, 2014. (Stephen Lam/Reuters)
The case was denied an appeal by the U.S. Supreme Court on June 30 which upheld a decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to rule against the oyster company. However, the farm’s harvesting operations will be permitted to continue for at least another 30 days after a group of local restaurants and businesses filed a new lawsuit and forged an agreement with the National Park Service to allow it to harvest until the court’s ruling on the injunction. – Reuters
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