From trap
to plate
shell+claw was started by Mike Masi and Sam Sewall in 2020.
Mike, a former marine science teacher at York High School, had used green crabs as a teaching tool for students – fishing the invasives for population surveys.
Then Mike learned about potential for a soft-shell market from Dr. Gabriela Bradt at New Hampshire Sea Grant, and an idea began to form.
In 2020, he and Sam, once Mike’s student, decided to try fishing for green crabs commercially, selling whole soft-shell crabs to restaurants and chefs around the Seacoast, to wide acclaim.
Meet the Team
-
Mike Masi
FOUNDER
Mike has a passion for the ocean that began as a child on the beaches of York. After college, Mike worked as a divemaster on the MV Horizon out of San Diego leading SCUBA, spearfishing, and white shark dive trips. Upon returning home to Maine, Mike spent time as a sternman in York Harbor before attending graduate school to earn a degree in secondary education. He spent thirteen years in education, eight at York High teaching Marine Science.
Mike is a volunteer on the York Shellfish Conservation Commission and the York River Wild and Scenic Study Committee. When Mike is not hauling crabs he can be found surfing, spearfishing, digging clams or playing soccer with his family.
-
Sam Sewall
FOUNDER
Sam is a fourth generation York Harbor lobstermen. He has held a commercial lobster license since age eight.
Sam completed his degree in small vessel operation at Maine Maritime in just three years so that he could pursue lobstering full-time. When not hauling some sort of crustacean, Sam enjoys hunting and fishing.
He’s pretty much the quintessential Maine lobsterman.
-
Billy Bachelder, Quenton Convery, and Gabe Sarno
THE INTERNS
Billy, Quenton, and Gabe are lifelong friends and 2021 graduates of York High School. All were four year standouts on the York High School National Ocean Sciences Bowl team, an extracurricular club run by Mike.
Billy is double majoring in art and environmental science (with a focus on marine systems) at Brown University.
Quenton is pursuing aquaculture as part of his studies at the University of Maine
Gabe is studying environmental science and physics at Bowdoin College. Yup… they are the real brains behind this operation!
On an excursion in 2016, the three friends were challenged to survive for 48 hours on an uninhabited island in Boothbay. Guess what they ate…
Green Crabs!
As seen in
