Oyster Farmers Begin To Wind Down Operations After Feds End Nat'l Seashore Lease

INVERNESS, CA - JULY 10: A Drakes Bay Oyster Co. worker sorts freshly harvested oysters at Drakes Bay Oyster Co. on July 10, 2014 in Inverness, California. After a 19 month legal battle with the federal government, Drakes Bay Oyster Co. is beginning to wind down operations a week after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal by Drakes Bay Oyster owner Kevin Lunny. Lunny had asked the Supreme Court to review his case against the U.S. Park Service to renew the lease for his oyster farm that operates on Drakes Estero which is on federal land and Congress has designated as a marine wilderness. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled against an injunction sought by Lunny to stay in business following former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's decision to not issue a new operational permit and extend the lease of the land for the oyster company. The Park Service and conservationists argue that Lunny's operations are destroying eelgrass beds, and his farm is too close to the area used by harbor seals for reproducing. Lunny reportedly responds that his farm is 'the epitome of sustainable food production,' and oysters have improved the water quality by filtering out particulate matter as they feed and were helping the eelgrass to flourish since the early 90's. Drakes Bay Oyster Co. produces over 300,000 oysters and about one million Manila clams each year, reportedly, 85 percent of shellfish grown in Marin County. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)