Author Description

In Atlantic Canada, natural populations of the hard clam or quahog occur along the Northumberland Strait and the north coast of Prince Edward Island where water temperatures are warm enough to permit spawning and recruitment. Until 1985, there was a small fishery but then demand rose and remains at a very high level. It is not known if the stocks can sustain this level of fishing. This study compared the effectiveness of a land-based upweller system with other strategies for growing quahogs from 1-10mm. Various forms of suspension culture, as well as oyster bags and bottom seeding, were evaluated. The study also examined the spawning status and size frequency distribution of the quahog population at a local commercial lease.