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