May 22, 2026

PCSGA stopped the Train!  

They say the light at the end of the tunnel is sometimes an oncoming train. Working on the Washington Department of Health’s proposed fee rule process was one of those times, and the proposed fees were the train. 

For well over a year, PCSGA has been fighting proposed fee increases that would have been devastating to shellfish growers across Washington and beyond. After learning the increases would have raised licensing fees 233%-789%, many of you told us you weren't sure you could survive them. Some operations would have scaled back. Others would have closed their doors entirely.

PCSGA refused to let that happen!

Our team went to work immediately; meeting with legislators, building coalitions, presenting the economic reality facing our growers, and fighting hard in Olympia until the Legislature acted to remove those fees. That fight took months of relentless effort, and it paid off. When the future of shellfish farming in Washington was on the line, PCSGA showed up and delivered.

This is exactly why PCSGA exists!

We are the organization that shows up when the stakes are highest, like when a single policy decision or legal challenge can determine whether your farm survives another season. It’s harder for individual growers to walk into the State Capitol and move the needle. Together, we can and we did.

If you're already a member, thank you. Your support made this victory possible. If you're not yet a member, consider what this victory was worth to your business. The fees PCSGA helped stop could have added thousands of dollars in annual costs to your operations and pushed many farms to the brink. 

PCSGA keeps experienced advocates in the room, builds relationships with lawmakers, and ensures our growers have a strong voice when critical decisions are being made. Membership dues alone don't cover the full scope of this work, and we are actively seeking additional funding to sustain our advocacy across the entire Pacific Coast. If you have ideas - new allied members, grant opportunities, or other potential partners - we'd love to hear from you.

The threats to our industry don't stop. Neither do we.

Join or renew today at www.pcsga.org or contact us at margaretpilaro@pcsga.org / 360-790-8264. Let's keep building an industry worth fighting for.

Margaret, Justin, and Alicia

PCSGA Team