Wait…how do you “farm” a river? 

Shellfish aquaculture (or mariculture) is still a growing industry and community in Maine. We get that.

GENERAL

Wait a minute…how do you “farm” a river?

When you think of a farm, you probably picture rolling fields and row crops. Or maybe you picture factory farms. In any case, you probably don’t picture boats, let alone the sea.

Where do oyster babies come from?

We all come from somewhere. As farmers, we call young oysters “seed.” We buy seed from hatcheries here in Maine. At the hatchery, “broodstock” oysters are spawned by hatchery technicians, who then care for the seed until it is large enough to go out to farms. The two largest hatcheries in Maine are Mook Sea Farm (Walpole) and Muscongus Bay Aquaculture (Bremen).

DAMARISCOTTA RIVER

How many farms are on the river? Do you have neighbors?

[Insert photo of the farm crew waving]

What makes the Damariscotta River so special for oyster farming?

The Damariscotta River is a tidal river, which is really a kind of estuary. These waters are especially welcoming to oysters due to salinity, temperature, phytoplankton, and tidal flow.

BLACKSTONE POINT
Where does the name Blackstone Point come from?

Blackstone Point is the jut of land in the Damariscotta River’s northern Great Salt Bay. It’s where Brendan Parsons got his first oysters in the water on a small LPA (Limited Purpose Aquaculture) in YEAR?

So do you still farm there, at Blackstone Point?

We do…it’s one of three areas we farm! Downriver from Blackstone Point—through the Twin Villages of Newcastle and Damariscotta headed towards the ocean—you’ll find Hog Island, the heart of our operation.

We bottom plant in the calm cove south of the island, keep intertidal gear off the northwest shore, and tend our surface-culture cages in the fast-flowing channel waters west of the island.

The third area is our nursery, where we raise our seed.

Where can I find your oysters?

We sell most of our oysters to distributors, meaning you can usually find us at your favorite seafood stops in New England. Not sure if a restaurant or raw bar carries our product? Simply ask!

Oh, and you can always find us at our sister-business the Shuck Station Raw Bar in Newcastle, Maine.

Blackstone? Shuck Station? In-house oyster? Elaborate?

Yes! Blackstone Point & the Shuck Station intersect through our shared owner, Brendan Parsons.

Can I come see your farm?

Private farm tours are currently on hold. To learn more about the farm, check out our Instagram, visit the Shuck Station, or send us a message (in a bottle).

Are you an industry worker, chef, restaurant selling or shucking Blackstones? We’d love to get you on site.

Ok…but can I still come see your farm?

Yes! We spend most days out on our work raft at our Hog Island lease site, where you can see us from water & shore. Grab a Tour from the Shore pamphlet from the Shuck Station and check us and other farms out from surrounding land preserves, the Damariscotta town landing, Schooner’s Landing Restaurant, or anywhere else you can catch a glimpse.

Looking for more? The Glidden Point Farm Store offers farm tours. Or catch a ride on the “Teciani” River Tripper for a river cruise with oysters, beverages, and plenty of info.