The coming years will be crucial for Hoopers Island Oyster Aquaculture as it launches its hatchery division to hopefully grow billions of larvae and spur growth in the oyster farming sector.

 The company aims to build several hatcheries in the Chesapeake Bay in coming years and are currently building a small start-up one with plans to build a larger hatchery in 1 to 2 years.

“The small start-up hatchery will produce about 1 billion larvae per year,” said Hoopers Island VP Johnny Shockley.