Basic Profile

Origin
Spinney Creek, Eliot, York County, Maine, USA
Species
Crassostrea virginica (Eastern oyster)
Classification
Farmed; single-producer brand
Farming Method
Suspended cages on longlines, floated March to November and sunk for winter; all oysters depurated
Producer
Spinney Creek Shellfish, Inc. (Howell family)
Visual Signature
Eastern oyster shell

Spinney Creek Shellfish is a family firm in Eliot, Maine, run by Thomas and Lori Howell, that owns a depuration plant on the shore of Spinney Creek. In 2021 Maine's Department of Marine Resources granted it a 20-year lease on 2.75 acres of the creek to grow oysters and quahogs in suspended cages.1

Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica), the species grown at Spinney Creek
Eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica), the species grown here. Photo: Steven Joyner / Inaturalist (CC BY 4.0)

A Creek With a Gate

A causeway at the southern end of Spinney Creek separates it from the Piscataqua River, and a floodgate in the causeway controls the tide, limiting how far the creek rises and falls. Because of the water's classification, shellfish from the site must be relayed or depurated before sale, and the company runs everything it harvests through its own plant.1 The lease allows up to 600 cages on 24 longlines, floated from mid-March to mid-November and sunk for winter.1 For what those water classes mean, see why oyster waters close after rain.

Flavor Breakdown

The water
A semi-enclosed creek with a gated tide:1 calmer water than the Piscataqua outside the causeway.
After harvest
Every oyster is depurated, held in purified seawater in the company's plant, before it is sold.1

What Makes Spinney Creek Unique

Spinney Creek's tide is managed by a floodgate, and every oyster from the lease is depurated before it leaves.1 The family owns the depuration plant on the creek's shore, so the cleaning step that other growers pay for is built into the farm.

An oyster from a creek with a gate on it, cleaned in the grower's own plant before sale. An unusual piece of Maine shellfish engineering more than a flavor destination.

Should You Add Lemon?

Cautiously

Taste one plain first.

Pairing Guide

1
Muscadet sur lie

A safe, salty match.

2
Dry cider

Local and crisp.

OptimalPlain or mignonette
AcceptableLemon
AvoidHeavy cocktail sauce

Who Is This For?

Will love it
  • Anyone interested in how shellfish safety works
  • Visitors near Kittery and Portsmouth
Sources
  1. Maine Department of Marine Resources (2021, 2022). Spinney Creek Shellfish, Inc., lease PISC SC: findings of fact and decisions. maine.gov (PDF)
Tasting notes & flavor profile in the Oysterminds app →