Maine oysters are well on their way to sharing the stage with lobsters as a signature seafood from the state of Maine, according to Chris Davis, director of the Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center.
The Damariscotta River is the heart of the historic oyster-growing region, and that's where oyster farming sprang up in the 1980s. The estuary produces firm, briny oysters with a clean, bright taste that quickly became popular at local midcoast restaurants.
The industry is not so local anymore. These days there are 75 oyster farms in Maine coastal and estuarine waters, from Saco to Washington County, and Maine oysters – particularly Damariscotta River grown oysters – are a popular menu item in white-tablecloth restaurants along the East Coast and the Gulf Coast. They are also shipped around the world.
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