The World is His Oyster

Amazing Tales from Off and On Connecticut‘s Beaten Path

When we think of the earliest crops that European settlers harvested in Connecticut, we think of corn or wheat. One of most important harvests, however, came not from the land – but from the water. The harvesting of the Eastern Oyster has been going on for centuries, with Native Americans cultivating them from Long Island Sound long before the settlers arrived. New Haven was once known as The Oyster Capital of the World. More recently, the state has pushed “aqua-culture” for shellfish in general. It’s a new way to “farm oysters” in The Sound. Mike Gilman, co-owner of Indian River Shellfish in Madison, shares insights into his incredibly interesting operation, which brings oysters on the half shell to your favorite seafood establishments.