The documentary series "Willapa Bay Oysters" is exploring the world of oyster farming in Willapa Bay of Washington State, and recently Stony Point Pictures was able to capture images that most of the growers themselves have never seen...
When it comes time to transplant or harvest their "bottom-culture" oysters, the most common methods are to hand pick the oysters into baskets or tubs at low tide, OR at high tide to use a boat with hydraulic booms which raise and lower a "dredge" bag to the bottom of the bay where they collect the oysters.
Oyster growers are very aware of where the bulk of their oysters are on the oyster beds - since prior to "dredging," they have very often scouted the beds at low tide and then return with the boat at high tide.
However, even though oystermen see the bag drop into the water and can feel the vibrations of when the bags are interacting with the ground beneath them AND even after calculated moves maneuvering around their beds which leads them to see the results of their labor as the bags resurface above water full of oysters (or not), there is always a step they do not get to see which is how the "dredge" bags are performing underwater.
So how do the oysters truly get into the "dredge" bags?
This video takes you underwater with a "GoPro HD Hero" camera so you can experience a whole new view of "oyster dredging" on Willapa Bay.
