Early steamer clam (Mya arenaria) in two coastal ponds in oak bluffs,ma (Martha's Vineyard Island)

摘要

The investigation into this project began in 2001 when the Town of Oak Bluffs purchased 200,000 seed (2-3 mm) steamer clams. Three trial restoration sites were chosen; two in Sengekon-tacket Pond and one in Lagoon Pond. One site in Sengekontacket Pond has remained open for harvest. The other two sites are alternated one opening every other year. All three sites are utilized primarily for recreational shellfishing, though occasionally a commercial shellfisherman does harvest from one of the sites in Sengekontacket Pond. The first year the steamer seed was only grown in the upweller and broadcast seeded at 12-15 mm. The seed at this size dug into the sandy substrate within 15 minutes. The area was marked but ice removed the marker that first winter. In subsequent years the Town of Oak Bluffs has been able to increase the amount of seed raised to 600,000 in 2005 (another 600,000 has been ordered for the 2006 season). The Town's Shellfish Department constructed sand filled nursery rafts to allow for greater growout of the seed. The seed steamers are still removed from the upweller once they reach 12-15mm, but are now transferred into the nursery rafts where they are held until late mid-September or early October. The seed measured 22.4-38.2 mm when they were planted out in the fall of 2005. The fishing effort has been monitored by the Shellfish Department and we have seen a modest increase in the steamer clam landings from these areas since the project began.