Max Burtis (left), apprentice Kelly Morgan, and apprentice Matt Zukura inspect the oyster pens on the New Meadows River on April 15. Christian Moravec / Times Records
On April 12, as a thin layer of fog hung over the Harpswell-Brunswick border, 24-year-old oyster farmer Max Bartis drove his motorboat to a small floating device in the middle of the New Meadows River.
The longtime Brunswick resident pointed north to a patch of black buoys floating on the Brunswick side of the body of water where his business, Felda Farms, farms some of its oysters.
Max Bartis, co-owner of Brunswick-based oyster farming company Felda Farms, sits in a boat driven by apprentice Matt Chukura on April 12. Christian Moravec / Times Records
“This is my only business. Still, most of my income comes from clamming,” Max later said.
Max and his father and co-owner Chris Bartis are now hoping to achieve even greater success in the aquaculture market. The pair applied for a standard aquaculture lease through the Ministry of Marine Resources in 2021. After a lengthy three-year process, the department held its first public hearing on the application at Brunswick City Hall. DMR said it would make a decision in the coming months.
The slow filing timeline hasn’t stopped the farm, founded in 2018, from growing on a social scale.
“You can’t really do enough community work,” Chris Bartis said.
In the summer, the farm participates in Midcoast festivals and events such as the Maine Oyster Festival in Freeport and Open Farm Day on the New Meadows River, where they gather with locals and have fun at the farm. Enjoy freshly caught oysters.
Max Bartis, co-owner of Felda Farms, helps boats dock on the New Meadows River on April 15. Christian Moravec / Times Records
Aiming for sustainable business growth, the company has also introduced a solar power generation system. The farm also tests electric motors for boats. The Bartees hope that soon all of their operations will be powered by renewable energy.
In the meantime, Max hopes the new lease will help the farm expand. He said this would increase annual oyster production and allow farms to be consolidated in one location.
“What we have is not enough to support me and my father,” Max said. “The leases we enter into will be more efficient.”
” previous
$750,000 in federal funding to help put local fish on the table for the rest of the year
Related article
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Please use the form below to reset your password. Once you submit your account email, you will receive an email with a reset code.