Aquaculture of the Hard Clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, on the East Coast of the U.S. Gef Flimlin, Marine Extension Agent Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Toms River, NJ, USA John N. Kraeuter, Associate Director Do not disseminate without author authorization Rutgers Haskin Shellfish Research Lab, Port Norris, NJ, USA
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The History Do not disseminate without author authorization Lesson
Post WWll Beginnings Campbell Soup s Clam Chowder Post War population explosion and move to the coast. Need for more small clams Need for good hatchery techniques and consistent high quality algae. Do not disseminate without author authorization
History Lesson 1879- William Brooks from Johns Hopkins Univ. obtains gametes from oysters Mid 1920 s, start of clam rearing by William Firth Wells at Bluepoints Oyster Co. on Long Island NY. 1950s Victor Loosanoff (Bur. Of Commercial Fisheries, Milford CT) worked on Broodstock conditioning, thermal shock for spawning and unicellular algae for food. Do not disseminate without author authorization
History Lesson Early 1950 s Rutgers Univ. worked on Biology of Hard Clam funded by Campbell s Soup. (Carriker/Haskin/Nelson) Richard Kelly started a clam hatchery in Atlantic VA in 1956. Sporadic production and field planting was a failure (predation) Advances by Matoria Chanley (hypochlorite/sodium thiosulfate) to sterilize seawater for algal production. Do not disseminate without author authorization
More Recent History 1962 ARC opens on Cape Cod and could produce large numbers of clam seed, but field culture was still a problem. Early 1970 s VIMS opens hatchery in Wachapreague VA. Mike Castagna and John Kraeuter use specific size plantings, gravel cover, and vertical baffles to try to reduce predation. Do not disseminate without author authorization
More Recent History 1974, NJ clammers take clam course with Castagna and Kraeuter. 1976 Rich Crema begins the use of bird netting to cover clam seed and reduce predation. 1980 s Acceptance of downwellers and upwellers for hatchery (Manzi/ Vaughan) Do not disseminate without author authorization
Do not disseminate without author authorization Hatchery Phase
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Do not disseminate without author authorization Upwellers
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Raceways Do not disseminate without author authorization
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Field Nursery Do not disseminate without author authorization Boxes
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Floating Upweller Systems or FLUPSYS Do not disseminate without author authorization
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Floating Dock FLUPSYS Do not disseminate without author authorization
Do not disseminate without author authorization R. Rheault
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Field Growout- Bottom Planting of Hard Clams Do not disseminate without author authorization
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Do not disseminate without author authorization Soft Bags
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Trends by State Do not disseminate without author authorization
Maine Hatcheries 6, almost all of the seed is shipped out of state for other growers or nursery systems. 2 growers Little overall value of marketable product Poor growing areas and the water is too cold for growing Do not disseminate without author authorization
New Hampshire Nothing happening and very little state support for aquaculture. Do not disseminate without author authorization
Massachusetts About 150 hard clam growers Value of clams marketed about $6 million 10% reduction in industry in past 5years Littleneck price down from $.22 to.17. Many clam growers also grow oysters. Hard hit by QPX disease in Provincetown. Do not disseminate without author authorization
Rhode Island 1 Hatchery About 5 growers Overall value has dropped from $30K to $6.4K (1998-2003) Production dropped during the same time by about 75%. Littleneck price has been between $.10-.15 each. Do not disseminate without author authorization
Connecticut 2 Hatcheries growing hard clams About 35 to 40 growers but some take wild seed and grow it out, industry fairly stable. Value about $10 million annually but price per clam is down about 35% over past 3 years. Oyster bottom culture has clams growing underneath it, considered cultured by some. Do not disseminate without author authorization
New York 4 Commercial Hatcheries, 1 University, 2 Town Hatcheries Few private growers but about 10 towns doing shellfish restoration for wild harvest. No growth of industry because of poor leasing policy. Average price is down a few cents. Major hatchery shut down (Bluepoints) Do not disseminate without author authorization
New Jersey About 40 growers down from 60 Overall value about $4 million per year. Price is off 30% and market is off 60% since 9/11. Littlenecks are $.15 -.16 each down from $.18 each from the dealer to the grower. 8 Commercial Hatcheries, 1 recently closed, possibly one more large one closing. Do not disseminate without author authorization
Delaware No commercial clam culture because State of Delaware does not sanction shellfish aquaculture. However experimental culture shows very good promise. Do not disseminate without author authorization
Maryland 1 Land Based Nursery System for clams About 8 growers in the coastal bays. Growth is starting in the industry. Traditional conflict with older wild harvest oyster fishery, kept shellfish aquaculture from expanding for any shellfish. Cultured clam price is stable. Do not disseminate without author authorization
Virginia 5 Commercial Hatchery Companies About 150 growers mainly on the Eastern Shore. In 2003, State calculated production at $20 million, a 167% increase from 1997. Expected to increase by 13% in 2004. Prices have been stable but lower than states to the north. Do not disseminate without author authorization
North Carolina 5 Commercial Clam Hatcheries About 50 growers Total value of industry is about $600K Industry growth is stagnant because of lack of state interest and may be dropping a bit. Littleneck price is down to $.12 from $.18. Do not disseminate without author authorization
South Carolina 3 Hatcheries, 1 nursery for hard clams. About 40 growers Industry value at $5.5 million About 60% growth in the past 5 years. Littleneck price dropped from $.16 to.12 but is back up to $.14. Do not disseminate without author authorization
Georgia 9 Growers, up 25% in the past few years. Total cultured clam sales about $600K Littleneck price is down to $.10 -.11 since 9/11. Lots of biofouling inhibits industry growth. Do not disseminate without author authorization
Florida 388 Certified Clam Culturists, down from 450. Value $12.1 million in 2003 down from $15 million in 2001. (20% loss) Dockside and wholesale price was off 35% since 2001, but has come up since hurricanes. 12 hatcheries and 8 nurseries. Do not disseminate without author authorization
Production Summary Overall hard clam culture is level. Technology research has about stopped but much more could be done. Disease (QPX) is not a great threat. Pricing is down to the grower. Most people are looking for marketing help. Frozen imports are now competing at a much lower price. Do not disseminate without author authorization
Impact of commercial clam culture on shellfish restoration No real research on these impacts. Restoration projects have mostly used local broodstocks from in-state hatcheries. Anecdotal evidence shows more notata clams outside areas of significant clam culture. Many growers and reseachers feel that clam culture is beneficial to environment. Time spent culturing clams is not pressure on natural stocks. Do not disseminate without author authorization
Thanks to Dana Morse, ME; Bill Walton and Sandy Macfarlane, MA; Skid Rheault and Dave Alves, RI; Tessa Getchis, CT; Gregg Rivara, NY; John Ewart, DE; Don Webster, MD; Mike Oesterling, VA; Sarah Mirabilio and Jim Swartzenberg, NC; Jack Whetstone, SC; and Leslie Sturmer, FL. Also much thanks to my colleague John Kraeuter, Rutgers HSRL. Do not disseminate without author authorization
Do not disseminate without author authorization C est tout!