Find an approved shellfish seed hatchery

If you are an aquaculture permit holder and would like to buy shellfish seed, it must be from a hatchery or nursery approved by the Division of Marine Fisheries. You can find out more about the approved places below.

Under 322 CMR 15 shellfish hatcheries and nursery operations must be approved by the Division of Marine Fisheries prior to selling seed shellfish in the State of Massachusetts. Approved hatchery and nursery operations may only sell seed to persons holding a valid Division of Marine Fisheries Propagation (aquaculture) permit. This website contains an updated list of approved shellfish seed sources and a list of growers approved to purchase shellfish seed. For information on obtaining a shellfish propagation (aquaculture) permit or on becoming an approved source of seed shellfish contact: Chrissy Petitpas or Gabriel Lundgren

2024 Approved Sources for Seed Purchases

Chatham Shellfish Co.
Approved for oysters from SC50 on March 25, 2024
393 Barn Hill Rd
Chatham, MA 02633
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website Order Form: http://www.chathamoysters.com/oyster-seed/
(Stephen Wright/John Richards)

Clam Daddy's
Approved for quahogs from Widgeon Bay, New Jersey on April 25, 2024
1204 E. Shore Dr.
Brigantine, NJ 08203
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.clamdaddys.com
(Lori Mayer/Bill Mayer)

Downeast Institute
Approved for softshell clam from Beals, ME Hatchery Facility on April 24, 2024
P.O. Box 83
39 Wildflower Lane
Beals, ME 04611-0083
Tel: [phone]
(Kyle Pepperman - Manager)

Fishers Island Oyster Farm 
Approved for oysters from Island Pond on March 25, 2024
P.O. Box 402
Fishers Island, NY 06390
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Island Creek Shellfish Company
Approved for oysters from Duxbury hatchery on April 5, 2024
P.O. Box 2426
Duxbury, MA. 02331
Tel: [phone]
(Skip Bennett)

Matunuck Oyster Co.
Approved for oysters from Peacedale RI on April 3, 2024
PO Box 188
Peace Dale, RI 02883
Tel: [phone]
(Dave Roebuck)

McGee’s Shellfish
Approved for quahogs from Tuckerton, New Jersey on March 7, 2024
570 Great Bay Blvd
Tuckerton, New Jersey 08087
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
(Joe McGee)

Mook Sea Farm
Approved for Oysters from Walpole hatchery on April 8, 2024
321 State Route 129
Walpole, ME 04573
Tel: [phone]
(Bill Mook)

Muscongus Bay Aquaculture
Approved for oysters from Bremen, ME hatchery on April 24, 2024
P.O. Box 158
Route 32
Bremen, Maine 04551
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
(Nellie Brylewski)

Additional Resources

2020 DMF Approved Shellfish Pathology Labs

Shellfish Planting Guidelines

Previously Approved Sources for Seed Purchase

The following list contains seed sources that have been approved to sell seed shellfish in Massachusetts in prior years. Approval in prior years does not guarantee the source will be added to the current year’s approved source list. Before being added to the current year approved source list, all sources will be required to provide a current pathology report. This list is provided to be used as a guide when ordering seed. If you are considering ordering seed from a source that is not listed on the previously approved or the current year’s approved list, you should first contact the Division of Marine Fisheries Aquaculture Specialist.

Aquacultural Research Corp. 
P.O. Box 2028
Chapin Beach Road
Dennis, MA 02638
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
(Rick Sawyer)

Atlantic Aquaculture Supply, LLC (Oysters Only)
100D Elm Street Box 5
Warren, RI 02885
Tel: [phone]
Toll Free #: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
(Pete Sebring)

Bay Farm, INC.
103 Cestone Court
West Creek, NJ 08092
Tel: [phone]
Cell: [phone]
(John Schriever)

Bill Avery's Quality Bay Clams LLC
741 E. Great Creek Rd.
Galloway, NJ 08205
Tel: [phone]
email: [e-mail]
(Bill Avery)

Cape Cod Oyster Co.
262 Bridge St.
Osterville, Ma. 02655
Tel: [phone]
(Dave Ryan/Al Suprenant)

Chatham Shellfish Co.
393 Barn Hill Rd
Chatham, MA 02633
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website Order Form: http://www.chathamoysters.com/oyster-seed/
(Stephen Wright/John Richards)

Cape Shellfish Seed (Oysters and Quahogs)
1 Shipyard Ln. Bourne MA
Tel: [phone]
Contact: Rod Taylor

Clam Daddy's
1204 E. Shore Dr.
Brigantine, NJ 08203
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Website: www.clamdaddys.com
(Lori Mayer/Bill Mayer)

Downeast Institute
P.O. Box 83
39 Wildflower Lane
Beals, ME 04611-0083
Tel: [phone]
(Kyle Pepperman - Manager)

East Beach Oysters
Email: [e-mail]
(Nick Papa)

Ferrycliffe Farm (Oysters Only)
1 Old Ferry Rd.
Bristol, RI 02809
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
(Dale Leavitt)

Fishers Island Oyster Farm 
P.O. Box 402
Fishers Island, NY 06390
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
(Steve Malinowski)

Great Atlantic Shellfish Farm (Oysters Only)
333 Bay View Ave.
East Islip, NY 11730
Tel: [phone]
(Marty)

Husselton Head Oysters
P.O. Box 1410
Vineyard Haven, MA 02568
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
(Jeffrey Canha)

Island Creek Shellfish Company
P.O. Box 2426
Duxbury, MA. 02331
Tel: [phone]
(Skip Bennett)

Marine Bioservices Co. (Quahogs Only)
General Delivery, High Island
South Bristol, ME 04568
Tel: [phone]
(John Sheldon)

Marshall Point Sea Farm, LLC (Surf Clams only)
P.O. Box 285
18 Lobster Pound Rd.
Port Clyde, ME 04855
Office Tel: [phone]
Office Fax: [phone]
Hatchery Tel: [phone]
e-mail: [e-mail]
(Mike Anderson, Hatchery Manager)

Martha’s Vineyard Shellfish Group
Note: Due to limited supplies this source prioritizes growers in Dukes County
P.O. Box 1552
Oak Bluffs, MA. 02557
Tel: [phone]
(Emma Green-Beach)

Matunuck Oyster Co. (Oysters only)
629 Succotash Rd
South Kingston, RI 02879
Tel: [phone]
(Perry Raso)

Mook Sea Farm
321 State Route 129
Walpole, ME 04573
Tel: [phone]
(Bill Mook)

Muscongus Bay Aquaculture
P.O. Box 158
Route 32
Bremen, Maine 04551
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
(Tonie Simmons)

Niantic Bay Shellfish Farm
Stonington, CT
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
(Timothy A. Londregan III)​

Northeastern Massachusetts Aquaculture Center (Soft Shell Clams Only)
Salem State College
Salem, MA 01970
Tel: [phone]
(Joe Buttner)

Pangea Shellfish Company/ Standish Shore Oyster Farm
Note: This seed source is not servicing new growers
(Ben Lloyd)

Park City Seafood, LLC.
1980 Main Street
Stratford, CT 06615
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
(Mike Julian)

Pemaquid Oyster Co. (Oysters Only)
P.O. Box 302
Waldoboro, ME 04572
Tel: [phone] (office)
[phone] (sales)
(Chris Davis)

Quality Bay Clams LLC (Quahogs Only)
741 E. Great Creek Rd.
Galloway, NJ 08205
Tel: [phone]
email: [e-mail]
(Bill Avery)

Running Tide Technologies
84 Mitchell Field Dr.
Harpswell, ME 04079
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
(Karl Eschholz)

Salt Pond Oyster Co.
221 Broad Hill Way
Wakefield, RI 02879
(Dave Roebuck)

Smalls Marine Farm
1238 Main St. 
Brewster, Ma. 02631
508-360-2690
Email: [e-mail]

Ward Aquafarms, LLC 
51 N. Falmouth Hwy
N. Falmouth, MA
Tel: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
(Dan Ward)