Shellfish attitude in lobster land: Maine oysters boom

BRUNSWICK, Maine (AP) — Maine is producing extra oysters than ever attributable to a rising variety of shellfish farms which have launched off its coast lately.

The state’s 2021 oyster harvest was the most important and most respected in its historical past, in line with latest knowledge from the Division of Marine Sources in Maine. The state’s haul of oysters, the overwhelming majority of that are from farms, grew by greater than 50% final 12 months to greater than 6 million kilos.

Maine’s rising oyster enterprise has made the state a much bigger participant within the nationwide trade that grows the dear shellfish, which have been valued at greater than $187 million in 2020. The expansion has additionally raised questions from members of different marine industries about whether or not the oyster enterprise is rising too quick.

Hobbit Home bought:This is the story behind the ‘whimsical, magical’ dwelling in southern Maine

Maine oysters have been value greater than $10 million on the docks final 12 months, a decade after they have been value lower than $1.3 million. They’re now the fourth most respected marine useful resource within the state, the place lobster remains to be by far an important seafood.

The presence of extra farms has led to criticism from some lobster fishermen, who concern shedding entry to productive fishing grounds. The state wants a complete plan for the way forward for shellfish farming or it’s going to lose its coast, mentioned Crystal Canney, govt director of Shield Maine’s Fishing Heritage Basis.

“We’re seeing folks treating this like a Wild West gold rush, and it is irresponsible,” she mentioned.

Alternatively, the expansion of oysters is nice information for a state that has been making an attempt to diversify marine industries, mentioned Dan Devereaux, one of many house owners of Mere Level Oyster Firm in Brunswick.

“As Mainers, we benefit from the truth that we’re up right here and the seafood is so coveted exterior the state,” he mentioned.

Maine lobster fishery at stake:York backs lobstermen in authorized battle over restrictions

The expansion of Maine oysters is occurring at a time when the nationwide oyster trade is diversifying. A decade in the past, about 60% of the worth of U.S. oysters got here from Washington and Louisiana, in line with knowledge from the Nationwide Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Now, these states make up 27% of the worth, and industries have grown in states together with Texas, Virginia, Massachusetts and California, NOAA knowledge mentioned.

Maine’s harvest made up lower than 1% of the nation’s oyster worth in 2011 and it was 3% in 2020. Oyster farms, which usually develop oysters in cages in coastal waters, have grown in Maine in that point. There have been lower than 600 acres of shellfish farm leases in Maine in 2010 and there are actually about 1,000 acres, state information present.

The state stays a comparatively small producer within the nationwide oyster trade, however oysters from Maine are usually extra precious than these from elsewhere, mentioned Sebastian Belle, govt director of the Maine Aquaculture Affiliation. Maine oyster farmers sometimes receives a commission 10-15% greater than these from different states, he mentioned.

“The demand for Maine oysters is extremely sturdy, and has been for the final 10 years or so, but it surely looks as if it is getting stronger and stronger,” Belle mentioned.