Massachusetts Aquaculture Association Archives

MASSACHUSETTS: Shucktember!

September 4, 2024 — The following was released by the Massachusetts Aquaculture Association:

Ease into September and support your local oyster farmers by enjoying some Bay State
grown oysters! During the month of September, several Massachusetts growers will donate $1 to the
Massachusetts Aquaculture Association (MAA) for every 100 count bag sold. Eating more Massachusetts
grown oysters during September not only offers oyster lovers the opportunity to enjoy oysters at their
peak but will also support the grower’s organization. MAA is a non-profit trade association that
represents the interests of oyster farmers in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Currently, there are
over 400 licensed growers in Massachusetts farming more than 1,300 acres producing shellfish with a
reported value of over $31 million.

The fresh and briny taste of oysters represents more than just good food, but a healthy economy and
environment. Shucktember is a fund-raising effort for the MAA that benefits from the sales of
Massachusetts-grown oysters during the month of September. By supporting the MAA, you are
supporting the growth and support of oyster farms from Cape Ann to Buzzards Bay to Cape Cod to
Martha’s Vineyard and all points between! By ordering Massachusetts-farmed oysters during September,
you help keep our seafood local and support the 2,000 jobs that are made possible by the oyster farming
industry.

The MAA’s Shucktember fund-raiser relies on the voluntary participation of oyster growers, dealers, and
restaurants. Participants are encouraged to contribute 1 cent per oyster that they sell during the month
of September. The funds from Shucktember will support the MAA’s initiatives to address problems that
impact the oyster farming industry and its community members in Massachusetts. According to the MAA
President, Seth Garfield, “We’re not only moving into the time of year when Massachusetts oysters are
at peak condition but purchases of Massachusetts oysters during Shucktember provides customers with
the added benefit of supporting Massachusetts oyster growers through our growers voluntarily
contributing a portion of their sales to the MAA”.

As the frenetic activity of the summer months slows down, show your support by buying and ordering
oysters from our partner farms, businesses, and restaurants. Eating more Massachusetts farmed oysters
during Shucktember is a delicious way to support MAA’s work on behalf of the Commonwealth’s
shellfish growers. Created by MAA, Shucktember was inspired by Ben Lloyd, of Pangea Shellfish and
Massachusetts Aquaculture Association member, we hope to gain your support and make this year our
most successful year to date!

Fast Facts:
● In 2023, over 50 million oysters were produced in the state annually generating more than
$31 million in farm sales.

● The harvesting, sales, and supply chain of oysters supports over 2,000 jobs in the
Commonwealth – including the support of businesses in local communities.

● Oysters are the third most valuable seafood in Massachusetts.

● The MAA represents 25% of the industry. The MAA works with State and Federal
regulators of the seafood industry to keep our water clean, support our growers in times of
hardship, and ensure Massachusetts restaurants are serving local oysters.

● Oysters also provide significant environmental benefit with one adult oysters capable of
filtering 50 gallons of water a day. Oyster reefs can “shore-up” the coastline and attenuate
waves to decrease storm surges.

● Over the past 5 years, the MAA has helped with Covid-19 related business issues, addressed
and supported the implementation of new regulations from the Federal government, and
became a partner of the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF).

● The MAA works with the DMF to address local issues, guide growers through the grant and
permitting application process, and expand the presence of aquaculture in Massachusetts

○ This includes acting as an advocate by working with elected Massachusetts officials
to address water quality issues in Buzzards Bay that directly impacts 5 shellfish
farms.

Shucktember is made possible through the support of several farm businesses that include:
Barnstable Seafarms – Barnstable
Billingsgate Shellfish – Wellfleet
Cottage City Oysters – Oak Bluffs

Cotuit Oysters – Cotuit
Cuttyhunk Shellfish Farms – Gosnold
Ichabod Flat Oysters – Plymouth

Island Creek Oysters – Duxbury
Merry Oysters – Duxbury
Padanaram Oysters – Dartmouth

Pangea Shellfish Company – Boston
Plymouth Rock Oysters – Plymouth

Sandy Neck Oysters – Barnstable
Saquish Oysters – Saquish

Signature Oysters – Katama
Sweetheart Creek – Yarmouth
Ward Aquafarms – Falmouth

*The list of participants in Shucktember 2024 is still growing, for more information about MAA please visit MAAquaculture.org.

The Massachusetts Aquaculture Association (MAA), is a non-profit Trade Association formed in 1986 to promote the continued development of aquaculture and to improve conditions affecting aquaculture in Massachusetts. The goals of MAA are to represent the interests of Massachusetts aquatic farmers, to encourage promotion of high-quality aquaculture products, to grow a thriving aquaculture industry, facilitate the development and transfer of relevant technology and to maintain an effective network between industry, government, and researchers.

MASSACHUSETTS: Panel: Ocean acidification threatens lucrative shellfish sector

February 10, 2021 — As a result of climate change and direct human factors, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean off Massachusetts are becoming more acidic, making them a less friendly habitat for the shellfish that drive a key industry here.

With no action, many of the scallops, clams, mollusks and lobsters at the bottom of the ocean in the Gulf of Maine will begin to dissolve by 2060 and new ones will struggle to form, imperiling an industry that supports thousands of people in the Bay State, a special commission said in a report Tuesday.

The Special Legislative Commission on Ocean Acidification recommended that Massachusetts establish a broad ocean acidification monitoring system and funnel more money into existing programs that address some of the things that are making the ocean more acidic, like residential and agricultural runoff, septic discharges and the deterioration of natural wetlands.

“Ocean acidification poses a serious threat to the Massachusetts state economy, and a potentially existential threat to coastal economies that rely heavily on shellfishing,” the commission wrote in the conclusions of its report. “Massachusetts should act to combat ocean acidification now, rather than later. Ocean acidification is expected to worsen significantly before the end of the century. Actions taken now will ultimately be more cost-effective and valuable than actions taken when significant damage has already occurred.”

Global carbon dioxide emissions absorbed by the ocean and nutrient pollution of waterways drive the pH level of areas of the ocean down, making the waters more acidic and limiting certain ions that help clams, oysters, scallops, mussels and lobsters form their protective shells.

Read the full story at WHDH

Cape businesses partner with ‘MassGrown’ outlet

August 25, 2020 — A new, state-run online marketplace, called MassGrown Exchange, launched last week, offering a platform where food suppliers such as farmers and fishermen can advertise wholesale products they have for sale with a specific timeframe for how long the listing should last.

So far, two Cape-based businesses are listed as participants — Massachusetts Aquaculture Association, in West Chatham, and Midnight Our, a fishing boat operating out of Harwich Port.

State officials touted the site, at Massnrc.org, as an important resource during the COVID-19 pandemic to help generate business amid a massive economic downturn and a platform that will also carry long-term benefits.

“A key aspect of our work in this area is not just working through this challenge, but really building a system that, over the long-term, will have resilience to withstand whatever challenges we face in the future and to ensure one of the best resources that we have — the local abundance of food that we produce and grow and catch here in Massachusetts — helps us to really support our residents and support our economy,” Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Kathleen Theoharides said during a virtual event unveiling the platform.

Read the full story at Wicked Local