ARCTIC SURFCLAM Background

• Main Author: Banquereau Bank
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic; Pacific; Tac
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.614.7824; http://starfish.mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/rap/internet/ssr_1996_037_e.pdf

The Arctic surfclam (Mactromeris polynyma) is a large clam (75-125 mm), similar in appearance to the more common Atlantic surfclam. The main distinguishing feature is that most specimens have a purple color in the foot and mantle that turns red upon cooking, similar to lobster and shrimp. It is found in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans in medium to coarse sand bottom. In the Atlantic there are commercial fisheries on Banquereau and Grand Bank, and small inshore fisheries off southwest Nova Scotia, and in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. These clams are slow growing and long lived, the oldest aged to date was over 56 years old and the largest was 157 mm. A good part of the unharvested population on Banquereau Bank reaches 40 years of age. They reach reproductive maturity between 5 and 8 years of age and spawn in the fall. There is some indication that the inshore population may have a spring spawning event as well. They are filter feeders and are preyed upon by large groundfish. The fishery on Banquereau Bank started with developmental surveys conducted by DFO in 1980-83. After a three month test fishery, a commercial fishery was managed with a TAC/EA program and limited entry. It is now conducted by 3 large (60 m) freezer processors using hydraulic dredges. The fishery targets clams in the 10-15 year old age range and the main market is for the foot portion of the clam which goes to the sushi and surimi market in Japan.