The Economic Impact of the Florida Cultured Hard Clam

摘要

The objective of this study was to estimate the economic impact on the Florida economy generated by the cultured hard clam industry. Florida certified shellfish wholesalers that handle Florida cultured hard clams were interviewed by telephone survey to determine the number and value of clams that they process, the sources of their clams, prices received, and the marketing channels (wholesale, retail, restaurant, and consumer) where they sell their clams. Of the three regions in the state, northwest Florida handled two-thirds of clams cultured in Florida. Firms obtained their clams from within their own region as well as from the other two regions in Florida. The Florida cultured hard clam wholesale and processing industry had $21.8 million in sales in 1999. Around 43 percent of these sales were within the state and 57 percent of them were to out-of-state locations, including international destinations. Regardless of the geographic destination of the cultured clams sold by clam firms, the majority was sold to other wholesalers. The total economic impact of the clam industry on Florida, after accounting for direct, indirect, and induced impacts, was $33.9 million in output, $9.0 million in labor income, and $12.1 million in value added.