Scallop farming in Penobscot Bay

Bangor Daily New

Andrew and Samantha Peters, founders of Vertical Bay, have been experimenting with Japanese scallop farming techniques in Maine’s Penobscot Bay for the past seven years. Their vertically netted, four-acre farm off Deer Isle has met strong demand, allowing them to sell locally since 2021 and expand out-of-state in 2024. Despite this, high costs and slow growth cycles have made profitability difficult. They are now seeking a 41.2-acre, 20-year aquaculture lease—the largest proposed scallop farm in Maine—to determine if scallop farming can support sustainable small businesses. Approval would make it one of Maine’s largest shellfish operations.