06/12/2026
Looking back to 2013 - our 2nd year farming oysters, having no idea what the future would hold- we were just trying to do a thing. We wanted to be a part of our local ecosystem and contribute positively to the ocean around us. We brought aquaculture back to our town of Bourne 50 years since it vanished, and a crazy idea became a one acre farm.
We side hustled through the next few years until we perfected our technique and methods to grow what we felt was the perfect oyster, and we had started to appear on menus from Cape Cod to Boston. But then came the pandemic- and with it, restaurants closed- so we pivoted fast to become a wholesaler to sell direct to customers.
As the world opened back up, we decided to keep our oysters local, and started selling at farmers markets, and sold the catch of other local fishers and wild harvesters as well. We also sold lobster rolls and shucked oysters at the farmers markets, and it was the start of our next chapter in retail and catering.
We grew so fast that we quickly needed a brick and morter shop. When Cataumet Fish was for sale, it was the biggest leap we’ve taken in our lives- but we knew it was right. We had a crystal clear vision of what we wanted to create.
From just the two of us on a boat on weekends as a side hustle- to our retail market, a catering business (booking into 2028!) a 7-acre oyster farm with 3 grow out locations, and wholesale business - it’s crazy to find ourselves here, built on all of the literal blood sweat and tears that goes into building a small business.
Seeing some of those same first customers that we sold oysters to from the parking lot of the Gray Gables Market during the pandemic still visit us regularly at Cataumet Fish, getting to work with our family and friends, and continuing to support local fishers, wild harvesters and small batch makers is what keeps us going, because the blood, sweat and tears never end with a small business!
Come visit us this weekend - we’ve got a great local seafood lineup going into a warm summer weekend!!
