By JERRARD WHITTEN
May 1998: Working on an underproductive shellfish bed in Gloucester, the Public Aquaculture Demonstration Project launched by MVPC with the City of Gloucester Shellfish Department is designed to improve shellfish harvests through a process of planting and rearing juvenile soft-shell clams. This is the first demonstration project of its kind on Massachusetts’ North Shore.
In August, the group received nearly one million juvenile soft-shell clams from a shellfish hatchery. The clams were placed directly into “growout” containers (floating, water-permeable cages) and anchored in protected waters of Gloucester. The growout cages (pictured in photo) enable the clams to access naturally-occurring food. Shellfishermen from Gloucester, members of the Gloucester Shellfish Department, and MVPC maintained the clam seed during the last quarter of 1997.
While the process of cleaning the cages and sorting the clams was laborious at times, everyone was pleased with preliminary results. During the period of August, 1997 to December, 1997, clams grew from around 1/8” to nearly 1/2.” Generally, clams reaching 1/2” in size during the growout phase are well suited for planting on the flats.
As winter approached, the team prepared to move clams from the growout phase to the overwintering phase (winter storage). Protecting the juvenile clams by submerging the growout cages helps clams avoid damage from winter storms and ice, and is critical for maintaining good survival rates. The clams were submerged and anchored in their cages on the sea bottom from December 1997 through April 1998.
In early April, members of the Gloucester Shellfish Department and MVPC relocated and resurfaced 15 growout cages containing clams. The crew was excited to find minimal predation by green crabs after such a mild winter. In fact, the mild temperatures appear to have allowed the clams to grow more than usual during winter months.
With the 1998 planting season upon them, the aquaculture group is preparing to plant clams on the less productive portion of clam flat known as “The Spit.” Preparations include constructing netting that is used to protect the clams from predators. The group anticipates seeding the flat in late May 1998.
For more information, contact Jerrard Whitten, MVPC at (978) 374-0519 or the Gloucester Shellfish Department at (978) 281-9741.
