Research shakes up oyster farming: UW professor strives to combat ghost shrimp using vibration, compaction

University of Washington scientist Alan Trimble, left, and daughter Katie Ruesink lower a concrete vibrator into the sediment from a floating platform in Willapa Bay’s tidal flats. UW scientist and biology professor Jennifer Ruesink recently released her research findings on how a combination of vibration and compaction can reduce ghost shrimp populations. (Contributed by Jennifer Ruesink/University of Washington)

University of Washington scientist Jennifer Ruesink lowers a concrete vibrator into Willapa Bay. Ruesink is researching how vibration and pressure affect ghost shrimp. (Contributed by Jennifer Ruesink/University of Washington)

Although native to the Pacific Northwest, ghost shrimp have devastated hundreds of acres of oyster beds in Willapa Bay. The shrimp burrow into the sediment, turning firm sand into mud, leaving oysters living in the sand to sink down and suffocate. University of Washington scientist Jennifer Ruesink recently released her research findings for a new method of reducing ghost shrimp numbers in the bay that combines vibration and pressure. (Contributed by Washington Department of Ecology)