Meet the oysterman...
... who is allergic to shellfish
Since the late 19th century, Norwalk has held the title of "Oyster Town" due to its rich volume of surrounding shellfish grounds.
This has led to an number of familyowned oyster farms throughout Connecticut, including Copps Island Oysters and Norm Bloom and Son right in "Oyster Town."
In 1994, Norm Bloom started his oyster farming and harvesting company entitled Norm Bloom and Son, LLC. Norm had been an oysterman since the age of 10 under the guidance of his father, Norm Bloom Sr. and his uncle, Hillard Bloom, who had been oysterman since the 1940s. In the
years that have followed, Norm along with his two children, Jimmy and Jeanne Bloom, have come to establish one of the largest oyster farms on the east coast as well as some of the most popular oysters on the "Gold Coast" and the state — Copps Island Oysters.
Being a third generation oysterman, Jimmy has had some of the weight of the business on his shoulders — though he has to try and avoid getting it on his hands and in his eyes. Jimmy is allergic to oysters.
The principal harvester for Copps Island Oysters said he first realized he was allergic to oysters when he was a teenager. He noticed that he'd get sick every time he ate oysters.
"The allergy isn’t that severe. I just can’t eat anything I catch," Jimmy said. "I will get short of breath if I spend too much time in our chipping room, but otherwise it’s very manageable."
Despite the allergy, Jimmy said he loves the entire oyster farming process. "It also doesn’t hurt to be on the water every day," Jimmy added. He's also raising his 5-year-old son Jack in the family business.
"My son, Jack, has already taken a strong interest in the family business," Jimmy said via email. "He definitely prefers to work on deck with the crew rather than ride in the wheelhouse with me. Some days he puts in a full nine-plus hour day. Pretty impressive for a five-yearold."
Jimmy said the job helps him to find new ways to solve "a multitude of issues."
One of those issues that arose last year was the pandemic, which dealt a blow to the oyster fishing community last year, according to Jimmy. The oyster fishing community in Connecticut was hit hard as sales bottomed out for oyster farmers down the coast. However, according to Jimmy, the industry is fighting back.
"The oyster industry in Connecticut is thriving, particularly in the wake of COVID," Jimmy said. "We are thankful that the market has since bounced back."
For those looking to get into oyster farming in Connecticut, Jimmy said the key is patience.
"Shellfish farming takes patience and hard work and there are no quick results," he said. "You have to be able to put in the work on a daily basis and hope that Mother Nature cooperates."