aquaculture

bknittle

,United States

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Aquaculture: Shellfish Farming

Wellfleet MA is known for its Oysters and Clams. The demand for them is so high you can not rely on the wild population of shellfish. Local shellfisherman raise clams in the shallow water called the flats. Areas are leased (granted) to the fisherman from the town. Each person marks their grant with bouys. This is an arial view of grants on Egg Island in Wellfleet harbor. Egg Island is only exposed at low tide. The long black lines are lanes - they are net covered areas, the seaweed collects on the nets making it look dark. My husband's area is noted by the hand.

In spring shelfishermen purchase seed clams. These are tiny clams about 3 mm across. They are rasied in tanks. These clams are planted in cages that protect them from crabs and other preditors. In the fall when they are about the size of a fingernail they are moved from the cages into lanes. These lanes are about 60 ft long and 14 ft wide. First the area is raked, to remove crabs, the clams are spread out, and the net is placed over them and pinned down. The clams will stay in these lanes for 2-3 years until they are large enough to harvest.