Stories of Impact:
Ferda Farms

Max Burtis started digging clams when he was 14 with a student shellfish license. While in high school, he learned that oyster farming was an excellent way to diversify his livelihood on the water.  Teaming up with friends, he founded Ferda Farms on the New Meadows River in Brunswick. Max now owns and operates the business with his father.

Sustainability is at the heart of Max’s work. He understands that the marine economy is closely tied to a changing environment and making a living on the water for the long term requires both innovation and careful stewardship of the waters he farms.

Max has been partnering with Island Institute for several years to build a more resilient and sustainable business:

• Island Institute helped fund Ferda Farm’s solar array and battery system that powers their work float.
• Max and his father received business loans from Island Institute for the purchase of their solar-powered tumbler machine which helped scale up production and reduce labor costs.
• Ferda Farms also participated in a green house gas assessment that identified areas for the farm to cut its carbon footprint and save on fuel costs.

2024 marks Max’s tenth year working on the water, and he has plans to continue this way of life, which he considers a critical piece of coastal heritage. With uncertainties in wild fisheries, Max views aquaculture as a way to honor that heritage and to continue doing what he loves.

consolidate farm locations, cut travel time, and reduce fuel usage. They’ve also relocated their shoreside access, keeping their boat closer to the farm. These cost- and carbon-saving strategies were identified through a greenhouse gas assessment conducted in partnership with Island Institute. Next, Ferda Farms aims to partner with Island Institute to adopt electric workboats, powered by renewable energy, to further reduce their environmental impact.