Island Creek Oysters workers preparing oyster cages.
Island Creek Oysters Workers handling oyster cages. © Island Creek Oysters

Climate Change Stories

Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition

Shellfish growers, wholesalers and restaurateurs from across the United States are uniting to speak up on climate.

August 21, 2020

Logo for the Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition.
© TNC

ABOUT THE COALITION

Anywhere there’s a shoreline, you can find signs of the impacts of climate change—sea level rise, ocean acidification, increased frequency and severity of storms. You’ll also find shellfish growers, many of whom have been making their living farming from the sea for generations and whose businesses form the backbone of their small-town coastal communities.

In 2018, a group of seven U.S. shellfish growers formed a partnership with The Nature Conservancy to create the Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition (SGCC). Members are dedicated to bringing about climate action by highlighting how climate change has impacted their lives and livelihoods.

Now, our members from coast to coast—and up and down the shellfish supply chain—are working together to advocate for sound climate policy and secure a low-carbon future to benefit the shellfish we love and the waters that sustain them—before it's too late.

Kamilche Sea Farm
Shelton, WA Kamilche Sea Farms' Anne Appleby and Charlie Stephens © Garrett Martin

Heard on the Half Shell

Hear featured stories from coalition members, friends and supporters—and share your own story about the impacts of climate change.

Coalition Membership by Region

  • Pacific

    Alaska

    Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery
    Aquabionics
    Blue Starr Oyster Co.
    Jakalof Oysters
    OceansAlaska
    Sea Grove Kelp Co.

    California

    Carlsbad Oyster Co.
    Hog Island Oyster Co.
    San Diego Bay Aquaculture

    Oregon

    Olympia Oyster Bar
    Whiskey Creek
    Tidal Boar Foods

    Washington

    Baywater
    Calm Cove Oyster Co.
    Chelsea Farms
    Hama Hama Co.
    HC Snail
    Hood Canal Mariculture
    Hustleshuck
    JJ Brenner Shellfish Farm
    Kamilche Sea Farms
    Pacific Hybreed
    Taylor Shellfish Farms
    Willapa Wild

    Canada

    Industrial Plankton
    Ondine Oceanfarm

  • Northeast

    Connecticut

    Harmony Sea Farm
    Max’s Oyster Bar
    Niantic Bay Shellfish
    Oyster Club
    Sixpenny Oysters
    Thimble Islands Ocean Farm

    Maine

    Aphrodite Oysters
    Bangs Island Mussel
    Bar Harbor Oyster Company
    Butterfield Shellfish Co.
    Chebeague Island Oyster Co.
    Dewey's Shellfish
    Emily's Oysters
    Eros Oysters
    Glidden Point
    Lanes Island Oysters
    Long Cove Sea
    Love Point Oysters
    Maine Ocean Farms 
    Maine Oyster Co.
    Maine Shellfish Developers
    Mere Point Oysters
    Mook Sea Farm.
    Nice Oyster Co.
    Nonesuch Oysters
    North Haven Oyster Co.
    Oyster Tracker
    Pemaquid Oyster Farm
    Snow Island Oysters

    Massachusetts

    Aquacultural Research Corp.
    Beach Point Shellfish
    Cape Cod Oyster Co.
    Cottage City Oysters
    Cuttyhunk Shellfish Farm
    Great Marsh Shellfish Co.
    Island Creek Oysters
    Mac's Seafood
    Merry Oysters
    Mill Creek Oyster Co
    Pangea Shellfish
    SEAPA USA
    Sweetheart Creek Oyster Co
    Ward Aquafarms
    Wellfleet Seafood Co.

    New Hampshire

    Cedar Point Oyster Farm
    Fox Point Oysters
    NH Superior Oysters

    Rhode Island

    Allen Harbor Oysters
    American Mussel Harvesters
    Aquidneck Island Oysters
    Behan Family Farm
    Matunuck Oyster Farm
    Walrus and Carpenter
    Watch Hill Oysters

  • Mid-Atlantic

    Maryland

    Congressional Seafood

    New Jersey

    40 North
    Barnegat Oyster Collective
    Betsy's Cape Shore Salts
    Cape May Salt Oyster Co.
    Greene Hook
    Laughing Gull Oyster Farm
    Lighthorse Tavern
    Sloop Point Oysters

    New York

    Aeros Cultured Oysters
    Cleaver Co.
    Crave Fish Bar
    Cull & Pistol
    Dock to Dish
    Fishers Island Oyster Farm
    Gaiergy Corporation
    Green Point Fish
    Hampton Oyster Co.
    Little Creek Oysters
    Lobster Place
    Lucky 13 Oysters
    Marlow Collective
    Montauk Shellfish Co.
    Oysterponds
    Race Rock Shellfish
    Salt Water Oyster Farm
    Seamore's
    Stein Seafoods
    Thatch Island Oysters
    West Robins
    Widow's Hole Oysters

  • Southeast / Gulf Coast

    Alabama

    Bama Bay Oyster Farm
    Bon Secour Bay Oyster Co.
    Depe's Oysters
    Fairhope Oyster Co.
    Maureena Jean's Oysters
    Point au Pins

    Florida

    Cedar Key Sea Farms
    Chiles Rest. Group
    Grayson Bay Oyster Co.
    Indian River Oyster Co.
    Lost Coast Oyster Co.
    Oyster Mom
    Palmetto Oyster Co.
    Pelican Oyster Co.
    Pensacola Bay Oysters

    Georgia

    Kimball House
    Watchman's

    Louisiana

    Bright Side Oysters
    Grand Isle Sea Farms

    Mississippi

    Fountain's Deer Island Oysters

    North Carolina

    Hold Fast Oyster Co.
    N. SEA. Oyster company
    Oysters Carolina

    South Carolina

    Barrier Island Oyster Co.
    Charleston Oyster Farm
    Lady Island Oysters
    Seaborn

    Tennessee

    Henrietta Red

    Virginia

    Oyster Seed Holdings
    Rappahannock Oyster Co.
    Rogue Oysters
    Spencer's Creek
    Vogt Oysters
    White Stone Oyster Co.

A woman examines an oyster.
Oyster A woman examines an oyster. © The Nature Conservancy

Our family businesses rely on a steady supply of oysters and other shellfish that consumers love to eat, and climate change puts that supply in jeopardy. It’s all-hands-on-deck time—our livelihood and our planet is at stake.

Ed Chiles

Owner, Chiles Restaurant Group, Anna Maria Island, FL

We Need You

If you're a shellfish industry business and care about acting on climate, join today.

Sign Up

JOIN THE COALITION

Consumers care about where their food comes from, and they want to know that the foods they love will continue to be available to them. The SGCC is committed to shining a light on how climate change is already affecting food production in the United States, using the stories of shellfish growers and other businesses endangered by its impacts to start a broader conversation about the urgent need for action.

We're helping policymakers recognize that jobs and the communities they support aren't the only things at stake as a result of climate change—but also our ability to feed a growing human population.

Members of the SGCC agree that:

  • Human impact on the Earth’s climate system is well documented, scientifically understood and profound.
  • Taking action to address climate change is imperative to secure the viability of our businesses, our communities and the natural resources they depend upon.
  • Improving people’s understanding of climate change and its impact on our businesses represent an important way to promote and enact climate policies that guide America to a low carbon future.

Friends of the Coalition

Organizations

Aquarium of the Pacific • East Coast Shellfish Growers Association • Florida Shellfish Aquaculture Association • James Beard Foundation • Maine Aquaculture Association • Massachusetts Aquaculture Association • Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association • RPS Group • South Carolina Aquarium

Individuals

Mary and Brad Burnham • Keri Chiaponne • Gef Fimlin • Dorothy Leonard • Nicolette Mariano • Sandy McFarlane • Bill Moore • Julie Qiu / In A Half Shell • Bob Rheault • Scott Soares • Mandy Uticone • Bill and Beth Walton

Film Trailer Against the Tide documents the personal stories of shellfish business owners across the U.S., showing how shellfish growers are changing the game on climate.

Help us act on climate.

Your contribution today can help ensure a healthy and thriving tomorrow for the shellfish industry.

Support The Coalition Share Your Story