About Us
We recognized that there was a significant deficit in the availability of locally sourced oysters throughout the state, a curious conundrum given the sheer abundance of habitat available for oyster culture. Decades of overharvesting, habitat loss, saltwater intrusion, and the BP oil spill have nearly rendered the wild-harvest oyster fishery in the state of Florida extinct. The Lost Coast Oyster Company aims to revitalize the lost industry along Florida's Gulf Coast and become a leader in sustainable aquaculture practices. By utilizing innovative off-bottom farming techniques we produce high-quality boutique oysters destined for the premium half-shell market. The Lost Coast Oyster Company's ultimate goal is to create a locally-sourced sustainable product that preserves Florida's unique environments while reinvigorating and promoting the restoration and enhancement of our natural estuarine systems.
For nearly 3 years, we farmed oysters in Tampa Bay's Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve. We developed a devout following of "LoCo" lovers and achieved local notoriety by being featured at all of the hottest restaurants. We launched our "Rawsome Raw Bar" and started popping it up at weddings, private parties, and breweries. Then we realized couldn't grow enough of our "LoCos" to meet the growing demand for fresh, locally-sourced oysters so we started buying from other farmers. We continue to source oysters from throughout Florida to distribute in the Bay Area and serve at our "Rawsome Raw Bar."
Meet the Team
We are a husband and wife duo from Saint Petersburg . We dig oysters. You should too.
Brian rosegger
Co-Founder & President
Brian is a native Florida native and holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from the University of South Florida. An environmental consultant by trade, his interest in oysters began with his first post-graduate assignment assessing populations of oysters in the wake of the BP oil spill. Brian is the brawn and some of the brains behind the operation.
Lindsay rosegger
Co-Founder & Vice President
Lindsay is Brian's better half and when she isn't working full-time on Communications for NOAA's Restoration Center, she is handling all of the back-end happenings of the farm. She manages the business side of the operation, including our accounting, marketing, sales, and distribution arms. Lindsay reminds us of our oysters; good things come in small packages.