Damon and his wife Madelyn have been farming oysters on the Damariscotta River since 2018. They grow oysters because they enjoy it. Growing under the name BOOTHBAY OYSTER COMPANY, LLC. d/b/a Fiddle Head Oyster Company, they a not currently selling. Oysters are grown from juvenile seed and planted on the bottom of the river. While this method is more labor intensive and takes longer for growth, it reduces unsightly floating gear and grows oysters in a more sustainable and natural method. The resulting taste of these oysters continues the fine reputation of the Damariscotta River as the “Napa Valley of Oysters.” Damon also forages for wild oysters.
80% of Maine’s oysters come from the Damariscotta River estuary. Pleasant Cove is between Damariscotta/Newcastle and Boothbay Harbour/South Bristol, and opposite the Darling Marine Center (UMaine). In the 1970s biologists seeded the river for European Flats/”Belons” and there are still populations that thrive…if you can find them. Our dog Noodles sometimes helps.
For more information you can send a message here on the website or you can mail to his first name at pleasantcove dot me
Further reading:
Oyster Land, Down East Magazine
Oysterator, Damariscotta region: “the ultimate destination for oyster lovers”
History of Oysters in Maine (1600-1970s), University Maine
Whaleback Shellfish Midden, Damariscotta, Bureau of Parks and Land
Wild Oysters in Pleasant Cove 
Wild European “flats” 
Capt’n 
Sorting farmed Eastern Oysters, 2yr old. 
Cleaning and sorting on deck 
Preparing to set gear on the LPA 
Top grown oysters 
Juvenile Oysters 
Safety Inspector 
Pleasant Point 
Not Oysters…but we still eat them 