Definition and Map of Natural Oyster Seed Beds

In 1880, the Legislature provided an opportunity for both Town and State shellfish commissions to designate natural beds through the Superior Court System. Natural beds are areas where oysters naturally recruit, creating an abundant source of seed. About 15,000 acres were mapped and designated, through the courts, as Natural Beds that could not be leased or franchised, and instead are available for public use. There are also non-designated natural beds, which the legislature adopted through statutes. Any area today where oysters colonize and are removed as seed are classified as an undesignated natural bed for seed. This ensure that all shellfish harvesters in the State have equal access to oyster seed sources.

The natural oyster seed beds from Greenwich to Old Saybrook are depicted on the map below. There are no designated natural oyster seed beds east of Old Saybrook. This image is from the aquaculture mapping atlas, which is interactive and allows users to select natural bed parcels.