Oyster Heaven tells the story and history of oystering along the Connecticut coast, which is heaven for oysters, oyster lovers, and for the people who harvest the bivalves from the sea. The protected Long Island Sound, the fresh-flowing rivers, and the broad estuaries provide nearly ideal conditions for oysters to grow and multiply. Oyster Heaven takes the viewer back in history to the days when oysters were essential to the survival of Native Americans. Then the film explores the days of the oyster boom in the 1900s, when Connecticut became one of the leading producers in the world; the collapse, when overfishing and water pollution nearly destroyed the industry; and today’s rebound, where our centuries-old commercial beds are thriving once again. You will meet a wonderful cast of characters, from the grizzled boat skipper to the young female oyster hatchery manager to the last boatwright on the East Coast who still restores oyster boats. It’s the end of an era on the waterfront, but another era is taking shape—one where industry and nature live in harmony.
Where to Watch
Oyster Heaven premiered on CPTV Spirit on Monday, June 20, 2022 at 9 p.m. It will re-air on CPTV Spirit on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 at 8 a.m. and Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 7:30 p.m., and on CPTV on Sunday, June 26 at 7 a.m.
It is also available to watch on-demand on this page, on YouTube, and at video.cptv.org.