Deer Isle Oyster Company
Abby Barrows is a marine plastics research scientist who farms oysters in Long Cove — and has spent five years designing plastic-free gear to replace the industry standard. The oysters are salty, clean, and snappy; the farm itself is becoming a model for what sustainable aquaculture can look like.
Deer Isle Oyster Company runs Long Cove Sea Farm in the protected waters of Long Cove, on the south shore of Deer Isle. Owner Abby Barrows came to farming through a specific lens: she's a marine plastics researcher, and when she acquired the farm she inherited conventional plastic equipment. She didn't just accept it. Over the following years, she developed plastic-free alternatives to the mesh bags, floats, and cages that are standard in the industry — creating scalable solutions she now aims to demonstrate at commercial scale.
The oysters grow in surface bags on nutrient-rich tidal flushes from Southeast Harbor. The merroir is distinct: cold, clean water, mud flats, strong currents, and freshwater inputs produce a briny, firm oyster with a clean finish. Barrows talks about the "snappy" character as a function of the specific conditions of Long Cove — not just any Maine cove, but this one.
The company sells hand-harvested oysters direct, with shucking guides available online for home use. They've also done public events — oyster and kelp farming talks with tastings, open to the island community.
The Facebook page at Long Cove Sea Farm is the most active channel for updates and availability.
What Visitors Say
"A tranquil little farm in the nook of a hard-to-access estuary: clean waters. We went there by dinghy in the afternoon when Abby was around and bought a dozen. I wish I bought two. Oysters were medium-sized; fresh and crunchy with a bit of milkiness. The waters they released were very clear. Clean mineral taste with a burst of sweetness. Californian sparkling brut was a perfect pairing"
"Not only were the oysters delicious, the ordering and pick up process was seamless. We ordered 4 dozen oysters, mignonette sauce and their shucking kit. The products were laid out so nicely for us at pick up and the little market with offerings like wine to pair was adorable. Would recommend to anyone visiting the area to add this to your itinerary. If shucking your own oysters isn’t in your wheelhouse, they have pop up parties around the area or also can do private shucking parties."
"Purchased a dozen oysters during our stay in Maine. Pickup was quick and easy using their website. Oysters were fresh and harvested earlier that day. The mignonette they sell was very good with them."
Local Tips
- Order through the website's Oyster Shop for direct purchase and shipping.
- Shucking tools and guides are available in the shop — order together if you're new to it.
- Watch for public events and farm talks; Barrows does outreach through the Stonington Public Library and island organizations.
Connected To
- Fish Creek Oysters — another island aquaculture farm, run by Jesse and Allison
- Aragosta at Goose Cove — likely buyer of local oysters; Finigan works closely with island producers
- Stonington Lobster Co-op — the fishing co-op that represents the same working waterfront tradition