What is Salinity?
Salinity Seafood & More is a retail shop on Whidbey Island, Washington, offering oysters and specialty provisions from small businesses & artists in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. In addition to in-store shopping, Salinity ships nationwide.
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Where are you located?
Salinity is located on Whidbey Island, WA, and partners with the gift shop at Island Shakespeare Festival's Bard's Boutique.
Click here for more info & directions!
5603 Bayview Rd, Suite 3
Langley, WA 98260
Salinity is located right up the stairs from the small parking lot between Bayview Cash Store and Bayview Garden.
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What are your store hours?
Open 11 AM – 4 PM
Every day except Wednesdays and major holidays.
During summer, the shop is open every other Wednesday evening for the Bayview Corner Street Dances.
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Do you ship nationwide?
Yes — Salinity ships across the USA from Whidbey Island, Washington.
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Where do your oysters come from?
Salinity sources oysters from two small Pacific Northwest shellfish farms:
- Skagit Shellfish in Skagit Bay, WA
- Swinomish Shellfish Co. in Similk Bay, WA
These partnerships allow Salinity to offer high-quality oysters from the two oyster farms closest to Whidbey Island that are growing our PNW native Olympia oyster species (and others). Click here for oysters!
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Where do the rest of your products come from?
Salinity sources food & other items primarily from over 85 small businesses and artists in the Pacific Northwest.
Click here for the list of local suppliers and their locations.
The top priority is to provide locally-made items with high quality, fair trade sourcing that aim to minimize negative impacts along the supply chain for humans, animals, and the broader environment. The only products that do not meet this criteria are either: incredibly special (e.g. canned Icelandic Cod Livers), incredibly useful (e.g. freezable Ice Roller Massager), or delicious fair trade chocolate made in its country of origin (e.g. Fu Wan's chocolate from Taiwan).
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How do I order oysters?
Live oysters must be ordered online by midnight Sunday for:
- Thursday shipping
- Friday local delivery
- Friday in-store pickup
The retail shop itself carries nonperishable goods only, but perishable items can be ordered in advance for Friday pickup or delivery.
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Can oysters be gift shipped?
Yes. Almost everything available through Salinity — including items from seasonal pop-ups — can be packaged into a gift box and mailed for you.
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How do I place an order?
You can place your order directly through this website.
At checkout, you can choose from:
- Nationwide shipping
- Local delivery on Whidbey Island
- In-store pickup
All orders must be placed by midnight Sunday for the following week's deliveries, unless scheduled in advance.
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When do you ship orders?
Shipping happens on Thursdays only.
Orders must be placed by midnight Sunday for shipping the following week.
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What shipping options do you offer?
Shipping cost depends on weight and shipping speed.
Perishables:
- Within Washington State: UPS Ground (overnight service within WA)
- Outside Washington State: UPS Next Day Air
Nonperishables:
- UPS Ground (1–5 business days nationwide)
- USPS Priority Mail (when applicable)
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Are there shipping restrictions?
Yes.
- Live oysters cannot be shipped to Texas (state regulations only allow native species).
- Alaska and Hawaii require additional shipping expense.
- Live oysters shipped to Hawaii require an additional import document.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, please get in touch before placing your order.
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Do you offer local delivery?
Yes — local delivery is available on Fridays only anywhere on Whidbey Island for a flat $15 fee.
You can also join the Cooler Club to receive $5 off local delivery.
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When is in-store pickup available?
In-store pickup is available Fridays from 11 AM–4 PM.
Perishable items must be ordered online by midnight Sunday for pickup the following Friday.
You may also:
- Shop online and choose in-store pickup
- Purchase items in-store and have them shipped anywhere in the USA
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What is the Island Shakespeare Festival?
The Island Shakespeare Festival is a professional theatre company based on Whidbey Island, Washington, dedicated to bringing accessible, classical theatre to contemporary audiences. Founded in 2010, the Festival presents an annual outdoor summer season of plays — often by William Shakespeare and other classic playwrights — performed under a signature canvas tent known as Henry the Tent in Langley, WA.
The Festival operates on a “Pay What You Will” model, meaning performances are open to everyone, regardless of financial means, with donations encouraged to support the work and community.
In addition to the summer season, the organization expands its reach through community tours like Shakespeare in a Backpack, educational programming, and other theatrical offerings throughout the year. It strives to make classical theatre engaging, inclusive, and welcoming to audiences of all ages.
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How is Salinity connected to Island Shakespeare Festival?
Salinity Seafood & More shares a retail space with Island Shakespeare Festival’s Bard’s Boutique in the Bayview Cash Store at Bayview Corner on South Whidbey Island.
During the summer season (mid-July through early September), Salinity also provides concessions inside Henry the Tent for Island Shakespeare Festival performances, Wednesdays through Sundays mid-July through early September. The pop-up shop opens one hour before each show and during the 15-minute intermission. Click here to get tickets to the shows!
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Are oysters safe to eat year-round?
Yes. Oysters are at their best flavor in the beginning-to-middle of the winter, but thanks to modern oyster farming and refrigeration, oysters can be safely enjoyed year-round. Specific availability may vary by species and season.
Extra safety precautions are taken during the summer, since bacteria grows exponentially at warmer temperatures. Always buy from a reputable shellfish farm, or for recreational harvesting check the Washington State Department of Health Recreational Shellfish Safety Map each day before you harvest. Ensure they are kept at fridge temperature (around 40 degrees Fahrenheit) at all times.
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How long will live oysters stay fresh?
With proper refrigeration, most live oysters can remain fresh and safe for about 7–10 days from harvest or delivery. For best flavor and texture, enjoy them raw within the first few days, then switch to cooking to above 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Never eat an oyster that's open on its own, or if the meat is pasted to the side of the shell and barely wet. A good oyster is still alive, "swimming" in liquid.
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How should I store live oysters once they arrive?
Keep live oysters cold and breathable:
- Refrigerate immediately (ideal 34–40°F).
- Do not store oysters in water or in sealed bags
- Optional: Place them in a tray or bowl, cupped side down, covered with a damp cloth
- You can place oysters on ice briefly when preparing to serve. However, do not store them submerged in melting ice water, as fresh water will kill them.
- If there's to be a delay between shucking and eating, ensure the temperature of the meat is kept below 45 degrees until they are eaten — sometimes there'll be ice under them but sunshine warming the meat itself to an unsafe temperature
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How do I prepare or open (shuck) oysters?
- Use an oyster knife (not a kitchen knife).
- Hold oyster cupped side down, hinge toward you, and gently twist the blade to open.
- If you prefer not to shuck by hand, oysters can also be steamed, grilled, or baked until they pop open safely.
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What should I do if I'm not sure if an oyster is safe to eat or not?
When in doubt, don't risk it. If you have time, click the Chat button in the bottom right corner of this website and send me a message with details (photos optional). I can't always respond via Chat right away, but I will respond via email when I am able.
Important Rules:
- Oyster is fully closed
- When opened, oyster is "swimming" in liquid and the meat is not stuck to the sides of its shell (note: you may lose liquid while shucking)
- Fresh oysters should smell like clean seawater or brine, never overly fishy, sour, rotten, or sulfuric
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Can I freeze oysters?
Freezing live oysters is not recommended because it kills them and can ruin their texture. Shucked and/or cooked oysters can be frozen, but flavor and firmness may change.
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How many oysters should I buy for a party?
Plan about 6 oysters per appetizer serving or 12–18 per main course.
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Can eating raw oysters make me sick?
Raw oysters are generally safe when handled and stored properly (harvested from an approved & monitored location, kept at or below 40 degrees F). However, like all raw shellfish, there is an inherent health risk associated with consuming them.
People with liver disease, compromised immune systems, certain blood disorders, or other underlying health conditions are at higher risk for severe illness from raw shellfish and should consult a physician before consuming them.
Mollusk shellfish allergies can develop later in life, even if you’ve eaten oysters or other shellfish before without issue. If you experience symptoms such as hives, swelling, difficulty breathing, dizziness, or gastrointestinal distress after eating shellfish, seek medical attention immediately.
If you are unsure about your risk level, consult your healthcare provider before consuming raw oysters.
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Still Have Questions?
Get in touch or visit the shop during open hours — we’re happy to help.