Rising Tides: Oyster Farming in Lobster Country – with Abby Barrows

Send us Fan MailMaine’s working waterfronts are evolving, as aquaculture, climate change, and shifting access reshape how coastal communities make a living. In this episode of Rising Tides, Bill Perna speaks with Abby Barrows about her path from environmental science into oyster farming, and what that shift reveals about the future of Maine’s coast.Abby reflects on why she chose to buy an oyster farm on Deer Isle, what makes that particular stretch of water unique, and the practical challenges of operating an aquaculture business in a region long dominated by lobstering. Their conversation explores how environmental pressures, infrastructure limitations, and waterfront access influence day-to-day decisions on the water.Grounded in both scientific research and lived experience, this episode considers how aquaculture, diversification, and community collaboration may shape the next chapter of Maine’s working waterfronts.Perna Content's Rising Tides explores how coastal Maine is adapting to environmental, economic, and cultural change through long-form conversations with people working on and alongside the water. New episodes are released fortnightly.The podcast accompanies the book Rising Tides: Adapting to Maine’s Coastal Future, available at www.pernacontent.com/publishing