Mature oyster larvae may be purchased to be introduced into your own setting system, so that you can produce your own spat-on-shell/seed. These spat can be used for a variety of purposes including growing for out-planting or for the half shell market.

To place an order for oyster larvae please contact Stephanie Alexander (UMCES HPL, phone: 410-221-8310, email: tobash@umces.edu or Stacey Willey (UMCES HPL, phone: 410-221-8330, email: swilley@umces.edu) . Oyster larvae are typically sold by the million but smaller orders may, at times, be accommodated.

Diploid Wild Larvae:  No deposit is required when placing an order for less than 50 million Diploid Wild larvae. On orders above 50 million diploid wild larvae, a 25% non-refundable deposit is required when the order is placed for it to be valid.  All deposits and payments for Diploid Wild larvae must be made to UMCES HPL by credit card, check, or money order.  Cash will not be accepted. All sales MUST BE PAID IN FULL before product will be released/shipped. Personal checks will not be accepted for orders over $500 without prior approval. A certified check or money order is required.

A 25% non-refundable deposit is required for all Triploid and Disease Resistant (DR) larvae orders over 10 million when the request is placed in order for it to be valid. The time it will take for your order to be ready will vary, but the hatchery will try to accommodate reasonable setting schedules. Any spawns requiring specific broodstock or ploidy manipulation are considered custom spawns and will be accommodated as the hatchery schedule permits. There may be an additional charge for any custom spawns. All deposits and payments for all Triploid and Disease Resistant (DR) larvae must be made to UMCES HPL by credit card, check, or money order. Cash will not be accepted. All sales MUST BE PAID IN FULL before product will be released/shipped. Personal checks will not be accepted for orders over $500 without prior approval. A certified check, money order, or credit card is required.

You will be contacted approximately a week prior to the order being ready to ensure that you are ready to receive the larvae. Once notice is given that your larvae order is ready, you will be given a total balance due (less your deposit), and will have 48 hours to arrange for pickup.  All orders MUST BE PAID IN FULL before product will be released. If pickup is not made within those 48 hours, you will forfeit your order. Future product availability is not guaranteed.   Pickups should be scheduled during normal working hours, Monday through Friday, 8am-4pm, however it may be possible to pick up your order during specific times during the weekend.  Please contact a hatchery staff member for a pickup time outside normal hours of operation.  Orders MUST BE PAID IN FULL AT TIME OF PICK-UP.

It is highly recommended that you arrange to pick up your order. However, we understand that this may not always be reasonable. In these cases, please be aware that larvae are delicate and need to be handled with care and in a timely manner to avoid problems that may arise. The hatchery is not responsible for damage during shipping once you have accepted the shipment at your site. Please follow the procedures outlined in this document when handling your shipment. Shipments should be accepted by someone that is familiar with the procedures, and accepted only if the shipment is in good shape. Failure to follow the protocols outlined by the hatchery may result in the loss of oysters within the shipment and is the responsibility of the grower, not the hatchery.

Once notice is given that your larvae order is ready, you will be given a total balance due (less your deposit) that does not include shipping costs. All orders MUST BE PAID IN FULL before product will be released/shipped. Once full payment is received, a hatchery staff member will assist with scheduling a shipment of your order via FedEx or another shipper selected by the customer. You will have 48 hours in which to schedule shipping of your order. Failure to schedule/receive shipment within this time frame could delay your order. Future product availability is not guaranteed. We do not ship on Fridays or weekends.  There are two shipping options; 1. You pay a separate invoice for shipping after FedEx calculates costs billed by HPL monthly, or 2.  You obtain your own FedEx account number and are billed directly from FedEx.  You will be billed additionally for the shipping costs from HPL.

In the event that the facility is unable to fulfill your order, you will be refunded your deposit (if applicable). Please allow 6-8 weeks for checks and up to a week for credit card refunds to be processed.

In the event that the facility is unable to fulfill your order, you will be refunded your deposit (if applicable). Please allow 6-8 weeks for checks and up to a week for credit card refunds to be processed.

* Diploid Disease Resistant are selectively bred, disease-resistant oysters made or sold under license from Virginia Institute of Marine Science Aquaculture Center

**Triploid Disease Resistant are natural triploids produced under license from 4Cs Breeding Technologies, Inc.