High court turns down California oyster farm

Environment • Farm had been operating in Point Reyes National Seashore's waters.

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San Francisco • The owners of a popular Northern California oyster farm facing closure are vowing to continue fighting to keep it operating after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear their appeal.

Kevin and Nancy Lunny, owners of Drakes Bay Oyster Co., said they are considering all their options to save the farm. They did not elaborate.

The Supreme Court earlier in the day left in place lower court rulings against Drakes Bay.

The oyster farm is in the Point Reyes National Seashore, north of San Francisco. Federal officials declined to renew its lease when it expired in 2012, citing a 1976 Congressional decision to return the waters of Drakes Estero to wilderness status.

Lower courts have allowed the oyster farm to keep operating while the case was pending.