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December 4, 2025

Reward offered in possible oyster-farm theft on Casco Bay

Oyster cages Photo / Courtesy of Maine Marine Patrol This gear on Casco Bay along with 40,000 oysters were reported missing on Nov. 22 by Michael Scarfuro of Portland.
By Renee Cordes

Maine marine authorities are investigating the possible theft of oysters and equipment from an aquaculture site in Falmouth worth close to $20,000.

The Maine Marine Patrol has teamed up on the search with Maine Operation Game Thief, which is offering a $5,000 reward to anyone who can provide information that leads to a conviction. The oysters and equipment belong to Michael Scafuro of Portland.

On Nov. 22, when Scafuro checked his site near the Brothers islands in Casco Bay, he discovered 40,000 oysters and 14 aquaculture cages missing, which he reported to Maine Marine Patrol.

Marine Patrol conducted a search of the area to determine if the gear could have broken free of the anchors that hold it in place, but no gear has been located. 

In addition, the rope, anchors and buoys that hold the gear in place were still on the site, but the cages in which the oysters are held during cultivation and the oysters in them were missing, leading investigators to suspect that this is a theft.

“This is a devastating situation for a small businessman like Mr. Scafuro, especially as we head into the holidays,” said Marine Patrol Sgt. Matthew Sinclair. “It can take years to grow oysters to market size, so he has lost that investment of time and money in addition to his valuable equipment and the income from the sale of these oysters.” 

“We are fortunate that Operation Game Thief has partnered with us and is offering a strong incentive to anyone who can provide information that leads us to a perpetrator,” he added.

Operation Game Thief is a private nonprofit organization that supports investigations by Maine’s wildlife enforcement officials. 

The penalty for theft of property valued at over $10,000 in Maine is a maximum of 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine.

Tip line 

Anyone with information related to the search can provide an anonymous tip by phone at 800-253-7887. 

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