QPX and Quahog Management

Steve Artabane November 4, 2004

Northern Hard Clam, Quahog

Hill, 2001

Overview of the Quahog

• Bivalve Mollusc• Mercenaria mercenaria• Used by Native Americans-Wampum• Fished in Coastal Waters, both sub-tidally

and inter-tidally• Range• Food Uses

Bull Raking and Hand RakingCommercial Dredging

Gates 2004

Growout Methods

Three Bays Pres. Inc.

Hard Clam Aquaculture Values in Florida

Ruth et al., 2003

QPX- Quahog Parasite Unknown

Smolowitz et al. 1998

Clam Seed Source Mortality

Calvo and Burreson, 2002

What to do about QPX

• Remove infected clams• Do not transport clams from one area to

another• Limit Densities of growing clams• Choose local seed