In this episode of Voices from the Field, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Lee Rinehart is joined by Mike Miezianka, co-founder of Toasted Oysters, a 3 1/2-acre aquaculture farm on Great South Bay off of Long Island. Mike and his business partner Ray Smith cultivate authentic Blue Point Oysters which they sell to distributors and restaurants on Long Island and beyond.

In this conversation, Lee and Mike discuss the promising future of aquaculture, including regulations on food safety and environmental stewardship which is paving the way for more farms to be established in waters around highly populated areas. There is a steady demand for these products, perhaps due in part to an increasing awareness of the ecological benefits of oysters, such as their ability to filter water an enhance marine habitats. Mike also shares advice for beginning farmers interested in getting started in aquaculture as well as some of the tools he and Mike have utilized to increase efficiency and reduce labor on their farm.

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NCAT Resources

Aquaculture – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Small Steps, Big Vision: Oyster Farming on Long Island’s Great South Bay – ATTRA – Sustainable Agriculture

Case Study: Solar Oysters LLC – AgriSolar Clearinghouse

Armed to Farm – Sustainable Agriculture Training For Military Veterans

Other Resources

Toasted Oysters - Authentic Blue Point Oysters

Ocean Farming: a Conversation with Bren Smith

You can get in touch with NCAT specialists and find access to our trusted, practical sustainable-agriculture publications, webinars, videos, and other resources at ATTRA.NCAT.ORG.