Meet the Farmers
Mere Point Oyster Co.
Maquoit Bay, ME
The featured oysters in your product were farmed with love by the team at Mere Point Oyster Co. in the cold, nutrient-rich waters of Maquoit Bay near Brunswick, ME!
These oysters were then hand-shucked by the team at Nor’Easter Oyster Co., and packaged for your enjoyment.
About
Farmers: Doug Nivens, Dan Devereaux & their families
Farm: Mere Point Oyster Co.
Harvest Location: Maquoit Bay, ME
Flavor Profile: Briny with a clean, refreshing finish.
How They’re Grown
Mere Point Oysters begin as tiny, 2mm oysters, known as spat that first meet the waters of Maquoit Bay in early spring. Once they reach 1 inch, the tiny oysters are moved to cages that float atop the water’s surface. They remain in these cages, nourished by the sea, and bobbing in the tides, over the next 2 years. The Mere Point Team regularly tends to the oysters to ensure they are growing healthy.
Throughout the summer months, the oysters are handled on a daily basis. Several times per summer, the oysters are run through the farm’s solar-powered tumbler to break off extra bits of shell around the edges. This helps the oyster focus on growing its soft delicious body rather than its shell. Tumbling also shapes the oyster into a nice deep cup, full of liquor and perfect for slurping.
By November, the baby oysters are about the size of an inch. They still have another year of growing before they reach market size. But the waters of Maquoit Bay get exceptionally cold during the winter months, with ice flow often making access to the farm impossible. Before the water freezes, the Mere Point team sinks their oysters to the bottom of the seafloor, where they will hibernate until the water warms in the spring.
After 2-3 years of carefully growing, sorting, and processing their oysters, the Mere Point team will begin to harvest their oysters for market when they reach 2.75”-3” inches.
As Brunswick, Maine’s Marine Warden, Dan Deveraux was on a mission to restore local shellfish populations and breathe life back into nearshore ecosystems. Doug Nivens, meanwhile, was searching for his next on-the-water adventure—one that could give back to the community he cherished. Both men shared a deep commitment to the coast of Maine, dreaming of a future where their sons could plant roots, and build their lives on Maine’s rugged and beautiful shoreline. They also knew that protecting Maine’s marine resources wasn’t just a passion—it was a responsibility.
The duo began experimenting with shellfish farming as a way to replenish the locally harvested populations that had been significantly impacted by changes in water conditions, and predation by invasive species, like the green crab.
Mere Point’s Story
In 2015, Dan and Doug formed Mere Point Oyster Company. They chose to site their farms where they live – in the clear, deep waters of Maquoit and Mere Point Bays. These bays are some of Maine’s most ecologically significant areas and support a rich array of marine life.
Mere Point Oyster Company has grown into one of Maine’s largest oyster farms. They employ over 15 employees, and have established a number of community partnerships to do their part to protect Maine’s valuable marine resources for future generations.
Nor'Easter Oyster Co is a woman-owned aquaculture business, and Southern Maine’s first shellfish processing facility. Our mission is to create new revenue opportunities for local Maine sea farmers by purchasing excess oysters, that would otherwise go unused, and transforming them into premium seafood products.