Video: Northwest oyster farms in trouble

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QUILCENE, Wash. – An invisible menace is invading one of the Northwest's most famous and valuable farming sectors, and shellfish farmers say it's already caused tremendous damage.

A bacteria is in Puget Sound, rapidly multiplying and preying on shellfish, mostly oysters.

"The potential is affecting the whole industry," said Ed Jones, Taylor Shellfish Hatcher Manager.

Oyster larvae are so tiny, they are barely visible to the naked eye, but under a microscope, you will find a very active group racing around looking for a place to cling to and grow up. It is at this stage where a bacteria named Vibrio Tubiashii is attacking.

The bacteria is not dangerous to humans, just to oysters. Some oysters that resist it will grow up to healthy and safe to eat.

Most will never make it that far.

The Taylor Shellfish facility in Quilcene is more than a farm. It is laboratory and right now, it is fully engaged in studying and fighting this bacteria. Its purification and safety systems are state-of-the-art. hey grow their own algae to feed the oyster larvae here and still somehow, it gets through. Bacteria is a mighty foe.

"It's in the air. It's in the water. It's in the food. Bacteria. We're covered with bacteria. So it's a really difficult… you can't see it," said Taylor Shellfish technician Vicki Jones.

The invisible bacteria pops up from time to time, but it seems to be thriving as the Pacific Ocean warms up. Today's larvae are tomorrow's oysters, so the advice from experts is enjoy your oysters now, because prices will go up as the bacteria hits future oyster crops.