10/16/2026
A COASTAL TRADITION | Read the full story at the link in our bio.
We spent a day with Conor and Alyssa MacNairs of N. SEA. Oyster Co. | The Oyster Barn, a family-run operation just outside Topsail, North Carolina.
Oysters are in Conor’s blood. His uncle, John Finger, founded California’s Hog Island Oyster Company, where Conor’s own passion began around the age of 9. “My uncle really drove into me that if you want to surf and fish and enjoy this environment we love, you have to focus on this organism,” Conor says.
Today, this mindset is central to N. SEA Oyster Co.
“An oyster reef provides shelter for over 90% of local marine life at some point in its lifetime. Our ‘why’ is simple: to do the exact same thing for our community. We don’t just grow oysters. We build an ecosystem, uplifting our team, supporting our neighbors, and ensuring we leave these waters and this coast far better than we found them.” - Conor MacNair
Since 2017, the farm has grown from a half-acre sublease to over 30 acres of legacy leases, purchased directly from commercial fishermen exiting the industry. Each year, N. SEA plants millions of shellfish, working with the local environment to yield a bounty of their famed Dukes of Topsail and illustrious Divine Pine oysters.
But just as much magic happens on land. Dubbed the Oyster Barn, N. SEA’s HQ is a true community hub, where the team hosts free kids classes, local advocacy groups, and regular Shuck & Chill gatherings.
