Bryant Brothers Shellfish Company

01/02/2026

Happy New Year!

02/12/2025

09/12/2024

I always like fall oysters the best!

03/17/2024

This is such a shame with the amount of money and effort that has been put in by New Bedford and individual companies to increase the importance of shellfishing to the local economy.

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Look at the map of how much of Buzzards Bay is changing, all the way to Mattapoisett!

March 13, 2024 — The Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries is immediately shutting down thousands of acres of shellfish beds surrounding the New Bedford and Fairhaven wastewater treatment plant outfalls to comply with federal health and safety standards.

More than 18,000 acres of the Dartmouth, Fairhaven and New Bedford coastline, including quahogging areas off the outer New Bedford Harbor, will be reclassified from being conditionally approved shellfishing areas to prohibited. This means the state will not permit harvesting shellfish from these areas under any conditions.

The decision represents a roughly 11,000-acre increase in closures from the roughly 7,000 acres in New Bedford Harbor that were closed in October 2023 over concerns about sewage contamination. The state agency will not be revisiting the classifications for another year, at least.

Shellfish beds along roughly 90,000 acres of lower Buzzards Bay — from Westport to Mattapoisett, and out to the Elizabeth Islands — will also be reclassified, from being approved shellfishing areas to conditionally approved. These beds will be open to harvest except under emergency conditions like sewage overflows, which occur during heavy rains. Shellfish caught in those areas also cannot be sold to the European Union.

“Here in Massachusetts, we pride ourselves on our nation-leading seafood industry, including culturally and economically important traditions of shellfishing in Buzzards Bay,” Department of Fish & Game Commissioner Tom O’Shea said.

“While it’s difficult to see any additional areas closed to shellfishing, these actions are necessary to comply with national standards and protect consumers from real public health risks.”

The shellfish bed reclassifications will affect recreational fishermen on the west side of Fairhaven, and two commercial quahog fishermen who historically dredge the offshore beds, DMF officials said. These vessels had commercial landings of less than $20,000 in 2020.

There will be no recourse for fishermen affected by the closures. However, they can use other open and conditionally open beds to fish, a DMF official said.

09/15/2023

MA Marine Fisheries issues Statewide Shellfish Growing Area Closures
Shucked and served by MAA
Greetings MA Shellfish Growers,
On September 14, 2023 as a precautionary measure for potential impacts from Hurricane Lee the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries announced a Statewide Closure of shellfish growing areas effective at sunset Friday September 15, 2023. (please see excerpted text below).

In accordance with Chapter 130, Section 74A of the Massachusetts General Laws, the Division of Marine Fisheries shall close all shellfish growing areas in the state as a precaution due to predicted heavy rainfall and high winds from Hurricane “Lee” expected to affect Massachusetts coastal areas on September 16, 2023.

Therefore, under authority of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 130, Section 74A, the status of the areas listed below will be changed to “Closed to Shellfishing” and closed to the taking of all shellfish except conch and scallop adductor muscle effective at sunset on Friday, September 15, 2023. Digging, harvesting or collecting and/or attempting to dig, harvest or collect shellfish and the possession of shellfish harvested from any Massachusetts waters during this closure is prohibited.

Under authority of 322 CMR 7.01 (7) all permits issued thereunder are hereby conditioned to prohibit the taking, selling or possession of shellfish as stated above from the areas listed below. After the storm, holders of aquaculture licenses under the authority of Chapter 130, Section 57, MGL, may conduct necessary maintenance/retrieval of their equipment after notifying, and with the consent of, the local shellfish constable. No shellfish maybe harvested during the closure or removed from the site for culling.

STATUS: CLOSED TO THE TAKING OF ALL SHELLFISH
Except conch and scallop adductor muscle
The waters, flats and all tributaries of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts from the Salisbury- New Hampshire State Line south to the Rhode Island – Massachusetts State Line including areas
N1-N28, GBH1-GBH6, MB1-MB14, CCB1-CCB51, OC1-OC10, SC1-SC64, NS1-NS4, NT1-NT14, V1-V36, E1-E14, MHB1- MHB5 and BB1-BB58.

Those areas shall remain closed until notification has been received from the Division that the areas have been placed into the Open to Shellfishing status.
Best Regards,

Seth Garfield
President
Massachusetts Aquaculture Association

The primary trade association for businesses and organizations directly or indirectly associated with Massachusetts aquaculture.

05/21/2023

Congratulations to The Winsor House for receiving ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ in today's dining review by 🎉🎉🎉

"It's a quintessential New England experience, and a perfect summer day." For those who've spent an afternoon on the farm in Duxbury, strolling from the sun-soaked Raw Bar patio, through the hatchery for a tour, and across the street to The Winsor House, you know just how true this statement rings. All thanks goes the best FOH & BOH teams a lil oyster farm could ask for 🧡 🌞🦪

03/15/2023

09/22/2022

When the farm first started we had krill (tiny shrimp); and their population has really grown due to the protection of the cages. The minnow population increased, then the scup moved in. These were very large scup and my grandkids loved watching them. We started seeing an increase of st*****rs, and this year we have only st*****rs. No clue how many (at least 4)because they appear wherever we are working. We believe they were born around the farm, and now summer here. The scup must not like living with predators.

08/06/2022

Today's National Oyster Day. A day to not only celebrate this special bivalve - but also to pause in appreciation for the many people and organizations committed to oystering. From the watermen and farmers who grow and harvest oysters - and the chefs and restaurant owners who serve them - to the fabricators who create specialized gear and equipment -- to the many people who purchase, prepare and enjoy our oysters -- and oysters around the world -- we recognize you today. We're also deeply appreciative of ongoing partnerships to ensure we continue to replenish and restore oyster beds for future generations of oyster lovers, growers and watermen. 🦪🦪🦪🦪

07/21/2022

The oystering has been good, and the farm is a great place to be during all this heat

Our monthly roundup of engaging and educational content. This month we look at the importance of oysters and how we can restore and protect them.