WA Delegation Urges Swift Action to Resume Geoduck Exports to China

Press Release

Today, 17 members of Congress from West Coast states, including the entire Washington state delegation, urged the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to quickly implement new procedures that would allow shellfish exports to resume to the People's Republic of China.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-WA-06) and Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA-03), led a bipartisan letter to NOAA Administrator Kathryn Sullivan urging the agency to swiftly finalize new protocols for monitoring, sampling and certifying exports as requested by the Chinese government.

Also signing the letter from Washington state's delegation were Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA-07), Rep. Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Rep. Dave Reichert (R-WA-08), Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA-02), Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA-04), Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA-10), Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA-05), and Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA-09). Those signing also included Senator Mark Begich (D-AK), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Rep. Don Young (R-AK), Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01) and Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA-05).

China notified the U.S. Trade Representative's office last week that it had lifted its ban on imports of Pacific Coast shellfish, which included Washington state geoducks. The ban took effect Dec. 3, 2013. For trade to resume, NOAA first must finalize monitoring, sampling and certification protocols. The letter also requested that NOAA continue to work with the states, tribes, industry and other stakeholders in a transparent manner.

"Due to the trade ban, many shellfish businesses have faced a disruption in their sales and experienced significant uncertainty about their ability to serve a major export market," the letter said. "We urge NOAA to expeditiously work to finalize protocols so trade can resume, supporting shellfish jobs on the West Coast."

Geoducks are hugely popular in China, where about 90 percent of Puget Sound geoducks are exported. But Chinese officials banned imports after two shipments of geoducks were flagged for potential toxins. U.S. officials disputed the accuracy of the results and found that the shellfish were safe to eat. U.S. officials worked with states, stakeholders, tribes, academics and Chinese officials to conduct additional monitoring and develop specific testing protocols for geoducks that will be exported to China.

Members of the delegation sent a letter on Dec. 20 to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, NOAA and the U.S. Trade Representative requesting immediate action to resolve the geoduck ban. Federal officials worked with state agencies and shellfish growers to develop a plan to monitor shellfish for certain toxins before they are exported.

The ban included geoducks and other bivalve seafood products, including oysters, clams and mussels from Washington, Oregon, Northern California and Alaska.

Washington state's $270 million shellfish industry supports more than 3,000 jobs in the state's coastal communities. Shellfish farming is the largest employer in Pacific County and is the second largest employer in Mason County.

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