Ferry Cove Shellfish will be one of the largest commercial hatcheries on the East Coast focusing on production of the Eastern or American Oyster larvae and seed for sale. Using advanced hatchery production techniques including a RAS system, algae bioreactors and biosecurity systems, coupled with its green building design and energy efficient systems, Ferry Cove Shellfish will provide the industry with high quality, low cost larvae and seed.
The Ferry Cove Oyster Hatchery is situated on 70-acres, minutes away from historic St. Michaels on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in Talbot County. The property has 2,000 feet of shoreline, a native forest, two intertidal ponds, wetlands and fields for crop production.
Ferry Cove Shellfish is a commercial oyster hatchery that will be designing, promoting and implementing sustainable aquaculture-related activities to encourage entrepreneurship and expand the economic opportunities for the regions' oyster growers. Through its hatchery and production facilities at Ferry Cove, our goal is to facilitate the growth and long-term viability of the commercial shellfish industry. The facility was designed from the ground-up to not-only maximize larvae and seed production, but also provide maximum flexibility during the production process to mitigate the many environmental conditions that could impact production. The Ferry Cove hatchery team will be collaborating with outside researchers and aquaculture industry leaders to explore and develop new scientific methods and technology solutions necessary to advance the operational efficiency and cost effectiveness of the shellfish industry’s production and grow-out processes.
Ferry Cove Shellfish believes it is our collective duty to do our share in responsibly assist in the management of fisheries, like shellfish, to ensure they thrive and grow, to use the best science available, to balance decisions that support both the fisheries’ economics and the ecosystems, and to properly communicate our findings to the public and other stakeholder groups. Ferry Cove will be in a position to help play an active role in supporting these goals while preserving the cultural history of a fabled industry.
To place an order, download the order form by clicking on the Ferry Cove image. Completed forms may be emailed to orders@ferrycove.org and a staff person will contact you. For all other inquiries, please call 410-886-1006
The Ferry Cove Team is focused on building and operating a world-class hatchery facility to support the regions’ growing aquaculture industry.
Stephan has over three decades experience in the business, tech, fisheries and environmental fields, having spent the last 20 years developing and implementing market-based solutions for oyster and Chesapeake Bay recovery efforts. He enjoyed a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy and held leadership positions at the Oyster Recovery Partnership, Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Sallie Mae and Career Builder. He has a B.S. from Villanova University, an MBA from George Washington University and is a graduate of the Naval War College. A lifelong Chesapeake Bay sailor, Stephan has two children and lives in Annapolis, Maryland.
Steven Weschler is the Hatchery Manager of the Ferry Cove Oyster Hatchery, one of the largest and newest commercial hatcheries on the East Coast. Prior to commissioning Ferry Cove, Steven spent 12 years working at University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science's Horn Point Oyster Hatchery in various positions handling the high volume production of C. Virginia oysters. A lifelong resident of Maryland, a hunter and fisherman, Steven is a graduate of Salisbury University with a Marine Biology and Environmental Science degree. Steven currently resides in Cambridge, MD with his wife and two children.
Alex is an Eastern Shore native with a BS in biology/environmental science and a MS in environmental management. After completing her undergraduate degree, she worked in the oyster industry for 7 years before joining Ferry Cove Shellfish in 2021. Alex is employed as a hatchery technician and specializes in larval rearing. She has a passion for traveling, in addition to participating in triathlons and marathons, and spending time with her dog Fern.
Danial has been involved with facilities maintenance in varying capacities for more than 12 years. Prior to that he worked as a commercial waterman. Danial grew up on Tilghman Island and now resides in Sherwood with his wife and three children.
Joe, an Eastern Shore native, joined the Hatchery team in July 2022 and is Ferry Cove's resident safety expert. Joe's technical know-how, as well as his environmental, health, and safety experience make him an integral part of the Ferry Cove team. Although new to the world of Oyster Hatcheries, Joe is always willing to jump in on any task and is looking forward to learning the industry and taking on new challenges.
Jake is a University of Wyoming graduate drawn to the Chesapeake Bay by its biodiversity and unique hydrology. He has a background in microbiology and histology but is an overall jack of all trades. He enjoys traveling, camping, and getting out on the water whenever possible.
Katie is an Eastern Shore native with a B.S. in Environmental Science from Washington College. She worked at the UMCES Horn Point Oyster Hatchery for three years and gained additional oyster research experience during her undergraduate studies. Katie joined the Ferry Cove team in May 2025. She enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time out on the water.
Nora is originally from central Maryland and graduated from William and Mary with a B.S. in Biology. She originally joined the Ferry Cove team in August 2025 as a Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps member where she gained experience both in aquaculture and other conservation fields around the Bay area. Outside of work, Nora enjoys live music, travel, and almost any outdoor activity.
Tina grew up in South Jersey, the youngest of four girls, with parents who did not discourage them from attempting anything. After earning a B.S. in Health Science Education at James Madison University, Tina worked as a medical librarian, substitute teacher and life guard while attending the George Washington University, earning an M.A. in Education and Human Development. Shortly after earning her M.A., she became a personnel trainer at Old Dominion University and then joined the Navy Resale System as a corporate trainer in Norfolk, Virginia. She transferred to the Navy Exchange Complex in Puerto Rico as the Retail Manager and after eight years returned to Norfolk to accept a position with a military retail broker where she worked for 26 years traveling the world throughout the Navy Exchange system and handling a wide variety of responsibilities. Most recently, Tina is a member of the Ratcliffe Foundation Board of Trustees.
Jim has been the Chairman and advertising spokesperson of Perdue Farms since 1991. He is the third-generation leader of the company founded by his grandfather in 1920. As Chairman, Jim is responsible for ensuring the company stays true to its vision and values, and ensuring that the company continues to build on its strong corporate responsibility programs, especially continued leadership in elevating animal care and strengthening farmer relationships, and a strong focus on associates. Under Jim’s leadership, Perdue Foods has grown to a national roster of premium protein brands, which includes turkey, pork, beef, and lamb. At the same time, Perdue AgriBusiness went from a regional grain and oilseed business to a multi-faceted international player. His leadership guided Perdue to become a leader in workplace safety and associate health, including innovative wellness programs for which the company received the C. Everett Koop National Health award for innovative employee wellness program. Jim received his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University, a master’s degree in marine biology from the University of Massachusetts at South Dartmouth, and a doctorate in fisheries from the University of Washington in Seattle, and his master’s degree in business administration from Salisbury University in Maryland.
Mike Roman is a Professor and the Former Director of the Horn Point Laboratory of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science. He received a B.A. degree from Lake Forest College, a M.S. degree from the City College of N.Y. and a Ph.D. from the University of New Hampshire. His main research interests are biological oceanography and the Chesapeake Bay. Roman has served on a number of scientific advisory committees for the National Science Foundation, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Naval Research and the National Academy of Sciences. He recently is a past-President of the Oceanography Society.
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