Member oyster farm locations along southern Rhode Island's coastline.
News & Events






The Sou’Wester passes by Fox Island in Narragansett Bay, on its way back from harvesting Rome Point Oysters.Harvested mature Matunuck Oysters about to be sorted at Matunuck Oyster Farm.The shallow waters of beautiful Ninigret Pond provide nourishment to growing oysters like East Beach Blondes and Ninigret Cups.All of the member farms of the OSSC participate in reef restoration projects funded by USDA grants, which involve the growing and distribution of oysters on shells (which began their life in a lab).Serene waters in beautiful Great Salt Pond, home to Cedar Island Oyster Farm.Just outside the breakwall surrounding Wickford Harbor, buoys mark one of the sites for Rome Point Oyster Farm.Home to East Beach Oyster Company, East Beach Oyster Farm, and Ninigret Oyster Farm, the pristine waters of Ninigret Pond complement the day’s blue sky.Gorgeous views of Potter Pond abound from a dock at the Matunuck Oyster Farm.Once these spat-on-shell young oysters reach one inch in size, they will be redeposited at a designated site to form a new reef.Moonstone Oysters thrive below the water’s surface of scenic Great Salt Pond.
The Cooperative's oyster farmers practice and promote sustainable aquaculture.
About the Cooperative
Six Member Farms, Fantastic Tasting Oysters

Consisting of six different oyster farms in Rhode Island that together cover about 50 acres, the Ocean State Shellfish Cooperative acts as a “microbrewery” for oysters. Operating in different bodies of water along RI's coast, each farm raises a variety of oyster, each with its own unique tastes and characteristics. Our six member farms are Cedar Island Oyster Farm, East Beach Farm, East Beach Oyster Company, Matunuck Oyster Farm, Ninigret Oyster Farm, and Rome Point Oyster Farm.

The farms are situated in different bodies of water and therefore produce oysters that vary slightly in both in appearance and taste, such as their level of saltiness, sweetness and tang. Many of the co-op’s oysters bear a prominent black stripe on the outer shell, predominant in hatchery-raised oysters in the Northeast. The co-op offers the following oysters: Cedar Island Oysters, East Beach Blonde Oysters, Matunuck Oysters, Moonstone Oysters, Ninigret Cups, Potter Moon Oysters, Rome Point Oysters, and Wild Goose Oysters.
Outstanding Oysters and Our Dedicated Farmers That Grow Them

With oysters grown and harvested from Prince Edward Island to the Gulf of Mexico and all along the West Coast, some restaurants may list as many as 10 - 15 different varieties on their menu. As consumers learn more about different oysters, as well as about the individual farms that produce them, they gain a deeper appreciation for the dedication and hard work that goes into growing great-tasting oysters. This isn’t all that different from how connoisseurs of fine wines learn about independent wineries and how grapes being grown in one geographical area yield a different wine as compared to grapes grown in vastly different environments. In this regard, the Cooperative aims to spread the word about our outstanding oysters and our dedicated farmers who work hard to raise them. To the folks that love our oysters, we thank you and welcome your continued support. To those who appreciate the taste of really great shellfish but haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing some of the delicious oysters that we offer, we invite you to try them. With such variety in the marketplace, our member farmers work with an intense passion to ensure that our oysters are some of the best available. We consistently provide the highest quality Northeast oysters year-round. All of our oyster farmers not only possess unlimited talents for growing a unique, excellent grade of oyster, but they also share a commitment to preserving our natural coastal environments, without which, none of this would be possible. (Click on the links at the left or in the map at the right for a closer look at each of our member farms.)


Dedicated to Promoting Sustainable Aquaculture and Preserving Rhode Island’s Coastal Habitats

The aquaculture movement has become more popular in recent years. Regarding aquaculture, many people think of fish farms, but aquaculture also includes the farming of shellfish. Through education, OSSC promotes the value of oysters and oyster farming and the significant roles they play not only as vibrant parts of our coastal ecosystems, but also in their ability to ensure a healthier coast. 

Every co-op member participates in reef restoration projects that are supported by USDA grants. At laboratories, oyster larvae are introduced into tanks containing shells from hard shell clams. The larvae, or spat, attach themselves to the shells. At this early stage, they can only be seen under a microscope. Each farmer takes these shells back to their respective nurseries and raises these oysters for about six months, until they reach an inch in size. Our farmers then transport and deposit these spat-on-shell oysters at a reef restoration site within a growing sanctuary, as designated by the Department of Environmental Management. Most of these reef restoration sites reside in the same body of water that support each of our members’ farms. The co-op values Rhode Island’s coastline and the infinite benefits that these rich ecosystems provide, and our members put these values into action as they strive to preserve and ensure the health of RI's greatest natural resource.