Basic Profile

Origin
Megansett Harbor, North Falmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA
Species
Crassostrea virginica (Eastern Oyster)
Classification
Farmed; single producer, sold as Fiddler's Cove
Farming Method
Seed raised in upwellers, then grown in cages resting on a sandy bottom
Producer
Ward Aquafarms (Dan Ward)
Visual Signature
Eastern oyster shell

Ward Aquafarms was founded in 2012 on a 2.6-acre lease in Megansett Harbor, North Falmouth. A neighboring 7.4-acre lease followed in 2015, which brought the farm to ten acres.1 Its oysters are sold as Fiddler's Cove.2

The Buzzards Bay shore at North Falmouth, Massachusetts, near Megansett Harbor, in May 2003
The Buzzards Bay shore at North Falmouth, Massachusetts, near Megansett Harbor, in May 2003. Photo: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

A Researcher's Farm

Dan Ward holds a master's degree in zoology and a doctorate in aquaculture.2 Alongside oysters the farm grows bay scallops and sugar kelp for sale, and runs research on steelhead trout, tautog and quahogs with universities, fishermen and federal agencies including NOAA and the USDA.1

Megansett is exposed to waves, so the oysters stay in bottom cages there, while the farm's sheltered sites in East Falmouth and Orleans use floating gear.1 They take two to three years to reach market.2

Flavor Breakdown

The water
Strong Buzzards Bay tides run through the harbor, with fresh water coming in from Rand's Canal beside it.2
The wholesaler's words
"Sharp brine with soft meats and a stony finish."2 Pangea rates the brine four out of five. The salt is the first thing you get and the last.

What Makes Megansett Harbor Unique

It is a commercial oyster farm that doubles as a research station, on the Buzzards Bay side of the Cape instead of the better-known Cape Cod Bay flats.1

A sharp, salty Cape oyster with a soft bite. Good for people who like brine but find Wellfleets too firm.

Should You Add Lemon?

Cautiously

Go easy. The brine is sharp and the meat is soft.

Pairing Guide

1
Albariño

Salt meets salt, with some fruit behind it.

2
Light lager

Rinses the brine and resets the palate.

OptimalPlain
AcceptableMignonette
AvoidCocktail sauce

Who Is This For?

Will love it
  • Brine lovers who prefer a tender oyster
  • People curious about farms that also do science
Sources
  1. Ward Aquafarms. "About the Farm." wardaquafarms.com
  2. Pangea Shellfish Company. "Fiddler's Cove Oyster." Oysterology Online. pangeashellfish.com
Tasting notes & flavor profile in the Oysterminds app →