General Info

1. Surf Clams can grow to be 8 inches long. To harvest them in the wild they must be at least 5 inches long. This one is being held by WHSG Fisheries & Aquaculture Specialist Abigail Archer.

16. And to sell them to restaurants where they can be enjoyed by all!© Christine Hochkeppel/Salty Broad Studios

15. This is the goal of the project – to assist the shellfish farmers of Massachusetts to harvest beautiful, tasty, nutritious shellfish from their grants.

14. The surf clams at this site are planted in the experimental boxes and also in a type of gear known as “Florida bags” since that’s the state they are often used in.

13. Harriet Booth places the small surf clams into the boxes. The next step is to put protective mesh netting over the top to protect them from birds, crabs, and carnivorous snails.

12. Alex Brown shows Josh and Harriet the surf clam seed he grew this season on his own.

11. Next stop – Provincetown. Shellfish farmer Alex Brown discusses the plan for planting with WHSG Marine Specialist Harriet Booth and Fisheries & Aquaculture Specialist Josh Reitsma.

9. Grower Mark Begley examines the seed along with WHSG Fisheries & Aquaculture Specialist Josh Reitsma.

8. Next stop – Barnstable Harbor. The surf clams will also be grown in boxes and under nets at this site.