A collaborative research program among federal scientists from the National Marine Fisheries Service, Rutgers University, the College of William and Mary, and professional fishermen and seafood companies has discovered that populations of two species of offshore clams are significantly more abundant than previously thought. Surfclams and ocean quahogs are harvested by commercial fishermen for use in seafood products such as breaded strips and chowders. Surfclams, Spisula solidissima,are generally caught from the ocean floor in warmer nearshore waters from North Carolina to Canada, with commercial concentrations found primarily off the New Jersey and Delmarva Peninsula. Ocean quahogs, Arctica islandica,are found further offshore in colder waters up to 750 feet deep.

   <---- Quahogging, south of Long Island

  Using commercial fishing vessels volunteered as research platforms, the team of fishery scientists conducted an extensive series of experiments to better assess the magnitude and composition of clam populations. According to Dr. Roger Mann of the College of William and Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science, "We can now confirm populations of ocean quahogs are more than three-timeslarger than previously estimated in 1995, and the surfclam resource approximately six-times greater. Hopefully, the success surrounding this joint project between the government, academia and industry will encourage similar efforts for other marine species."

  Professional clam fishermen donated their vessels, time and expertise in support of the project, and share the scientist's optimism. "The federal government must involve commercial fishermen more in ocean research efforts," says Warren Alexander, owner of the fishing vessel Cape Fear."Fishery managers want to get the best scientific information possible, and our cooperative work with these scientists proves fishermen can get the job done right."

  During the at-sea program conducted off the Atlantic coastline, Warren Alexander and other fishermen piloted their vessels while scientists guided a series of experiments studying commercial clam dredges. Additionally, scientists aboard the government survey research vessel Delaware II compared the research vessel's capabilities to commercial vessels in side-by-side trials. The research provided valuable information that improved the analyses of clam populations that are routinely conducted throught the stock assessments directed by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

  "We are very pleased with the success of our joint efforts with clam industry members and other state scientists," explains Dr. Michael Sissenwine, science and research director at the NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center. "In this era of increased budgetary pressures, we are always in search of cost effective ways to better assess the status of our marine resources. This type of collaborative research appears to fit the bill."*

Data aquisition on the bridge of a commercial clam boat during dredge calibration. ---->


  According to Eric Powell, "In about 18 months, we have gone from a situation where the accepted view of the clam fishery was that the fishery was in trouble and possibly overfished to the realization that the clam stocks are much larger than heretofore known, providing the opportunity for expansion and job creation rather than contraction and job loss in the clam industry. This has been accomplished while still using a conservative approach to fisheries management that assures wise use of the resource."

<--- A close-up of the GPS tracking system showing a rectangular area for dredge calibration and a plot of multiple tows used for the depletion experiment.

  A key to the success of this program was the development of an Industry Science Committee that focused the efforts of the industry, the academics and the federal scientists on the key research issues. This program was driven by the users of the data, not by the scientists or the politicians, and, as a result, the key information was provided in a timely manner and for a reasonable cost. The program demonstrates the importance of industry taking an active role in the science that is their future.

*Modified from the National Fisheries Institute Press Release