Farming oysters on the Damariscotta River since 2018. In 2020 a LPA (federal and state licensed lease area) was taken out in Pleasant Cove, a stone’s throw from the homestead. Grown for pleasure, to give away, and someday perhaps to sell on very small scale. Also forage for wild oysters.
80% of Maine’s oysters come from this estuary, the Damariscotta River. Pleasant Cove is between Damariscotta/Newcastle and Boothbay Harbour/South Bristol, 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.
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 