The Maine Oyster Trail is an award-winning, internationally recognized aquaculture tourism initiative supported by the Sea Grant Aquaculture Supplemental Fund and developed in partnership with the Maine Aquaculture Association. It is the first interactive, incentive-based oyster trail in the U.S., connecting visitors with over 90 Maine oyster farms and businesses. Visitors can explore farm tours, raw bars, boat and kayak excursions, and direct-to-consumer experiences, all supported by an interactive trip planner and digital Oyster Passport that allows them to track visits, log experiences, and earn rewards.
In addition to guiding visitors, the trail works closely with Maine’s oyster farmers to provide the tools and support they need to explore new and emerging business opportunities through tourism. Drawing on multi-year visitor feedback and engagement data, the Trail provides farms with insights on visitor preferences, motivations, and behaviors to guide the design of farm experiences and support strategic business planning. By facilitating hands-on, farm-focused experiences, the Trail allows visitors to engage directly with the knowledge and on-farm practices of Maine’s oyster industry, strengthening connections between farms, visitors, and local communities.
Since its relaunch, the Maine Oyster Trail has engaged thousands of visitors, provided economic and promotional value to participating farms, and been recognized nationally and internationally as a model for experience-based aquaculture tourism. As a Sea Grant-supported project, it illustrates how targeted funding and true collaboration with industry partners can foster innovation, support farms in expanding tourism-based revenue opportunities, and meaningfully expand public engagement in aquaculture.