By WAYNE CASTONGUAY
July 1999: Recent soft-shell clam aquaculture efforts received a boost, thanks to a grant to the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC) by the Massachusetts Department of Food and Agriculture (DFA). The grant will fund additional research into the feasibility of rearing soft clams for both private aquaculture and public stock enhancement
Traditional clamming. Historical photo from the collection of Ruth Alexander.
This project represents the third phase of a multi-year research project launched on the North Shore in 1994 (see Public Stock Enhancement and Aquaculture in Gloucester for previous updates on the project). MVPC is partnering with the Northeast Massachusetts Aquaculture Center, the City of Gloucester, and the Towns of Ipswich and Rowley.
The current project will investigate two techniques to produce young clams (“seed”) on the local level: hatchery production and wild seed harvesting. The hatchery production component will fund the development of a soft-shell clam hatchery at the new Northeast Mass Aquaculture Center at Salem State College. Hatchery produced seed is currently available only from hatcheries located outside the region and is very expensive. Hopefully, this research will lead to the development of a critically needed, reliable, local source of seed. Adult ‘brood’ stock clams from Ipswich and Gloucester have recently been delivered to the Aquaculture Center and will be spawned artificially over the coming weeks to produce millions of seed clams for the project.
The wild seed harvesting component of the project will explore ways to “catch” naturally produced seed in the wild to determine if this is a viable alternative to hatchery produced seed. Several types of experimental seed catching nets have been deployed at eight locations in Ipswich, Rowley, and Gloucester. The nets function by encouraging microscopic larval clams in the water column to settle and grow under the nets, while protecting them from predators. Based on previous research, it is expected that the nets will capture and protect many thousands of naturally produced young clams that would otherwise perish due to predation and other types of mortality. These clams can then be thinned and the excess transplanted to areas where clams are needed.
According to Dave Sargent, project participant and 8T&B member from Gloucester, “this exciting research could support local fishermen and their families in many ways. First, since the clam fishery has been very cyclical in nature historically, we may be able to enhance local clam stocks during low periods of natural production to help stabilize the fishery and increase the overall amount of clams available for harvest.” Sargent also emphasized, “This research may also pave the way for the development of clam farms in communities wishing to encourage private aquaculture businesses to reclaim unproductive areas.”
For more information, please contact Jerrard Whitten, MVPC, at 978-374-0519 or 8T&B members Dave Sargent (Gloucester) at 978-281-3981 or Wayne Castonguay (Ipswich) at 978-356-2956.
