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 coalition of more than 200 shellfish businesses from 23 U.S. states and Canada is working 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.

OUR MEMBERS

Coalition Membership by Region

  • Pacific

    Alaska

    Alaska Shellfish Farms
    Alutiiq Pride Shellfish Hatchery
    Aquabionics
    Blue Starr Oyster Co.
    Jakalof Oysters
    Kaawu Oyster Co.
    Koru and Kelp
    OceansAlaska
    Salty Lady Seafood Co.
    Sea Grove Kelp Co.
    Tommaso Shellfish

    California

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

    Oregon

    Erizo
    Flying Fish Company
    Nevor Shellfish
    Olympia Oyster Bar
    Ronin Sushi
    Southpark Seafood
    Tidal Boar Foods
    Whiskey Creek

    Washington

    Baywater
    Calm Cove Oyster Co.
    Chelsea Farms
    Chuckanut Shellfish
    Eight Row
    Hama Hama Co.
    HC Snail
    Hood Canal Mariculture
    Hustleshuck
    JJ Brenner Shellfish Farm
    Jorstad Creek Oyster Co.
    Kamilche Sea Farms
    Neptune Seafood
    Pacific Hybreed
    Seas the Day Oyster Bar
    Set & Drift
    Taylor Shellfish Farms
    Tokeland Hotel & Restaurant
    Willapa Wild

    Canada

    Industrial Plankton
    Ondine Oceanfarm

  • Northeast

    Connecticut

    Harmony Sea Farm
    Max’s Oyster Bar
    New England Sea Farms
    Niantic Bay Shellfish
    Oyster Club
    Precious Oysters
    Sixpenny Oysters
    Stonington Kelp Co
    Thimble Islands Ocean Farm

    Delaware

    Delaware Oyster Co.
    George & Sons Seafood
    Inland Bays Oysters

    Maine

    Aphrodite Oysters
    Bangs Island Mussel
    Bar Harbor Oyster Company
    Basket Island Oyster Co.
    Butterfield Shellfish Co.
    Chebeague Island Oyster Co.
    Dewey's Shellfish
    Emily's Oysters
    Eros Oysters
    Ferda Farms
    Glidden Point
    Highroller Lobster Co.
    Inland Lobster
    Lanes Island Oysters
    The Lobster Shop
    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
    Martha's Vineyard Shellfish Group
    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
    Swell Oyster Co.

    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

    Archer Oyster
    Blue Oyster Environmental
    Congressional Seafood
    S.S. Shucking

    New Jersey

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

    New York

    Aeros Cultured Oysters
    Blue Heaven BBQ
    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
    OystersXO
    Race Rock Shellfish
    Salt Water Oyster Farm
    Seamore's
    Stein Seafoods
    Thatch Island Oysters
    Towd Point Oysters
    Violet Cove Oysters
    West Robins
    Widow's Hole Oysters

    Pennsylvania

    Muddy Waters Oyster Bar

  • 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
    Cypress Point Oyster Co
    Grayson Bay Oyster Co
    Indian River Oyster Co
    Lost Coast Oyster Co
    Oyster Mom
    Palmetto Oyster Co
    Pelican Oyster Co
    Pensacola Bay Oysters
    Salt Block Hospitality Grp

    Georgia

    Inland Seafood
    Kimball House
    Watchman's

    Louisiana

    Bright Side Oysters
    Coastal Development Projects
    Grand Isle Sea Farms

    Mississippi

    Fountain's Deer Island Oysters

    North Carolina

    Carolina Gold Oyster Co.
    Crystal Coast Oysters
    Ghost Fleet Oyster Co.
    Hold Fast Oyster Co.
    Middle Sound Mariculture
    N. SEA. Oyster company
    Oysters Carolina
    Shephard's Point Oyster Co.
    Shuckin' Shack Oyster Bar
    Slash Creek Oyster Co.

    South Carolina

    Barrier Island Oyster Co.
    Charleston Oyster Farm
    Dok2Door
    Lady Island Oysters
    Seaborn

    Tennessee

    Henrietta Red

    Texas

    Comedor

    Virginia

    Bay Watch Oyster Seeds
    High and Dry Outdoors
    H.M. Terry Co.
    Lambert Shellfish
    Muddy Waters Oyster Farm
    Oyster Seed Holdings
    Rappahannock Oyster Co.
    Rogue Oysters
    Shooting Point Oysters
    Spencer's Creek
    Vogt Oysters
    White Stone Oyster Co.

  • 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
    University of Massachusetts Boston School for the Environment

    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

Oyster farmers on a boat in the water surrounded by oyster cages.
Shellfish Aquaculture Our members represent the entire shellfish industry supply chain, from growers to restaurateurs. © TNC

Join Our Coalition

If you're a shellfish business and care about acting on climate, join the Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition today.

Sign Me Up

Photo of SGCC members at the Library of Congress during Lobby Day 2019.
Speaking Up Each year, coalition members convene on Capitol Hill to speak to their Congressional representatives and advocate for sound climate policies. © The Nature Conservancy
An oyster farmer peering through a green oyster tumbler.
Shellfish like oysters can benefit the marine ecosystem by filtering water, protecting shorelines and boosting biodiversity—but climate change is a growing threat to their numbers. © © Mark Alan Lovewell
Speaking Up Each year, coalition members convene on Capitol Hill to speak to their Congressional representatives and advocate for sound climate policies. © The Nature Conservancy
Shellfish like oysters can benefit the marine ecosystem by filtering water, protecting shorelines and boosting biodiversity—but climate change is a growing threat to their numbers. © © Mark Alan Lovewell

What You Can Do

Climate action starts with you—learn how you can speak up to help protect the future of the shellfish you love to eat, the communities that grow them, and the coastlines that sustain them.

  • 01

    Contact Your Elected Officials

    Ask your local, state, and federal elected leaders to support an economy-wide price on carbon, restore natural ecosystems that can help cut global emissions, and invest in emissions reductions programs like energy efficiency and grid modernization. Call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 or reach out to your local leaders. Learn Who's Representing You in Your State

  • 02

    Share Your Climate Change Story

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

  • 03

    Educate Yourself

    Learn about climate change—and how to talk about it with the people you care about. Talk Climate

  • 04

    Visit Us on Instagram

    Show your support for the coalition by following @shellfish4climate on Instagram. Follow Us

  • 05

    Sign up for SGCC Climate Currents

    Get the latest and greatest coalition updates delivered to your inbox each quarter. Sign Up

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