Breaking the Surface: Nicolette Mariano’s Journey as a Woman Oyster Farmer
In the early mornings on Florida’s Indian River Lagoon, the rising sun glimmers across the water, catching the edges of oyster cages and seagrass beds as dolphins glide by and seabirds call overhead. For many, this would be a postcard moment, but for Nicolette Mariano, it’s her workplace, her sanctuary, and the product of years of grit, sweat, and fierce determination.
As the founder and owner of Treasure Coast Shellfish (TCS), Nicolette has built one of the only woman-owned oyster farms on the East Coast of Florida. Her journey into aquaculture started not with a business plan, but with hurricane cleanup as a teenager, a curiosity about marine life, and an unexpected encounter with mangrove muck.
“I was 14 and volunteering at the Florida Oceanographic Coastal Center just before the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005 hit,” Nicolette recalls. “One day after the storm, I was helping clean debris when I sank waist-deep into the mangroves. I didn’t even know what I was pulling out, K-tubes, raceways, carboys, but I became obsessed with learning what all of it meant. That moment pulled me into the world of aquaculture.”
That early spark launched Nicolette on a path from marine biology into shellfish farming. Her story isn’t just one of environmental stewardship, but one of defying odds in an industry where women, especially women of color, are still a rarity. Starting her own farm didn’t come with a roadmap or a welcoming committee.
“It felt very lonely,” she admits. “Not just as a woman, but because no one else was farming oysters in the Indian River Lagoon. Five years later, TCS is still the only woman-owned oyster farm on Florida’s east coast.”
Building a Farm, Building a Legacy
Starting an aquaculture business is a massive undertaking. It involves navigating permits, investing in infrastructure, cultivating live animals, and dealing with the unpredictability of the ocean. For Nicolette, the farm became an all-consuming priority.
“The business has come first since day one. Even six years in, it still demands everything from me,” she says. “Oyster farming is like raising children—they always need something. There’s always something to fix, something to feed, something to protect.”
This past year tested her limits. With a small crew of about 5 people during the busiest harvest season and administrative tasks piling up, Nicolette was working 12-hour days on the water followed by another five hours behind a computer.
“The physical and mental exhaustion was real,” she says. “But when we hit a milestone—harvesting over 100,000 oysters in April, the most we’ve ever done—I finally felt proud. It was worth it.”
As her summer intern, I’ve had the privilege of watching this work ethic in action. From hauling cages to measuring oyster growth, every task carries meaning. And yet, Nicolette doesn’t just focus on the oysters, she keeps a close eye on the life they bring in.
“The most rewarding part isn’t just the harvest—it’s seeing juvenile spiny lobster, mangrove snapper, seahorses, even dolphins and manatees pupping nearby,” she says. “With seagrass disappearing in the lagoon, our farm has become a nursery habitat. That’s what keeps me going.”
Grit, Grace, and Giving Back
Treasure Coast Shellfish isn’t just a business, it’s a statement. It stands for sustainability, resilience, and representation. Nicolette didn’t grow up with a blueprint for success in aquaculture. Instead, she carved her own path, sometimes quite literally, through uncharted waters.
“There were definitely moments I wanted to quit,” she admits. “Starting this farm by myself, without even another farm nearby for support, was incredibly tough. I lost my full-time job during the pandemic. I was scared and exhausted.”
What got her through? A community of peers in the industry: other farmers, researchers, and friends who understood the chaos and rewards of aquaculture life. Even when she felt like the “weird bio kid,” she found her tribe in the unlikeliest places.
“Industry friends are my rock. We talk to each other through the rough days,” she says. “That kind of support is what got me through the hard parts.”
And the hard parts are real. Aquaculture is demanding—physically, mentally, emotionally. There’s no such thing as a “typical day.” One moment you’re loading gear on a boat, the next you’re pulling data, submitting permits, or fixing a broken line. Yet through it all, Nicolette never loses sight of why she started.
Lessons for the Next Generation
As a woman breaking barriers in marine farming, Nicolette has become a role model for those of us just entering the industry. She’s honest about the sacrifices, but also passionate about the possibilities.
“If you’re curious about aquaculture, start by working in the industry for five years,” she advises. “Try different companies, states, species. I worked in finfish, shellfish, with universities, even in environments that weren’t always healthy. But all of it shaped me.”
Her words resonate deeply, especially as I navigate my own internship here at TCS. Nicolette doesn’t sugarcoat the path, but she proves that it’s possible. Her advice is fierce, loving, and grounded in lived experience:
“It’s not going to be easy. You may have to work three jobs, couch surf, sleep in your car—do what it takes to gain experience. Find your people, or even just one person you can call when you’re crying in your truck, wondering why you started an oyster farm alone during a pandemic. But you will look back and know it was worth it.”
More Than Oysters
Today, Treasure Coast Shellfish is more than a farm. It’s a refuge for marine life, a beacon for young women in STEM, and a celebration of hard-won progress. Nicolette doesn’t seek recognition, but her story deserves to be told because it cracks open what’s possible when courage meets commitment.
“I hope people take away that oyster farming is truly a lot of work,” she says. “But it’s one of the most rewarding jobs because you’re working with the environment every single day and giving back.”
As her intern, I carry those words with me daily through saltwater, sunburn, and mud. Nicolette Mariano is not just breaking the surface, she’s changing the tides.
Author’s Note:
This blog was written as part of my summer internship with Minorities in Aquaculture. Working at Treasure Coast Shellfish under Nicolette’s guidance has taught me more than I could’ve imagined—not just about oysters, but about perseverance, purpose, and the power of representation in this industry.
meet THE AUTHOR
Sydney brown
B.s. Savannah State University & 2025 MIA Summer intern
