Eric Stettner, a first-year oyster farmer working 150 cages on five-acres of the Great South Bay, hit a jackpot of sorts this week when he was told his application for a grant to buy more gear had been selected by a new state program to help fund Long Island’s aquaculture industry.

"It’s a huge deal for me," said Stettner, owner of Islip-based Bombshell Oyster Farm, which received a $40,000 grant.

Stettner is one of 17 Long Island aquaculture businesses to receive a total of $4.2 million in phase one of the state’s Long Island Aquaculture Infrastructure Grant Program to buy and upgrade equipment to help streamline and increase production.

Another round of funding for an additional $3 million will open to applications early next month to help facilitate even bigger infrastructure project

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