Ketcham’s love of the water was triggered at age 8 or 9. “My dad took me flounder fishing for my birthday,” said Ketcham, who now lives in Southold. “Later I worked in a tackle shop and on fishing boats, and then got my captain’s license.” Originally from Patchogue, he’s a graduate of the aquaculture and fisheries technology program at the University of Rhode Island and, like Wile, is one of Suffolk County’s first aquaculture leaseholders.

Captain Matt Ketcham of Peconic Gold Oysters says that he was “19 years old and working in the commercial fishing industry on Rhode Island while studying aquaculture at the University of Rhode Island” when he knew that he wanted to make a living on the water, one way or another.