title: Clam predator protection is effective and necessary for food production.
abstract: Shellfish aquaculture is a widely practiced way of producing food for human consumption in coastal areas. When farming intertidal clams, farmers commonly protect young seedling clams from predatory losses by covering farmed plots with netting or screening. Recent discussion of the effectiveness of protective nets or screens and their environmental effects has raised questions concerning the utility of the practice. We provide data based on a review of more than 35 peer-reviewed articles, as well as our own research that demonstrates the efficacy of predator protection for clam farms in various habitats around the world. In addition, we evaluate the effects of screening on temperature, and comment on ancient practices of clam gardening as conducted in the Pacific Northwest.
authors.affiliation: Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory, Rutgers University, Port Norris, NJ, United States.
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Munroe
authors.affiliation: Marine Science Center, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, United States.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kraeuter
authors.affiliation: Downeast Institute, University of Maine at Machias, Machias, ME, United States.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Beal
authors.affiliation: School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.affiliation: Virginia Institute of Marine Science, The College of William and Mary Gloucester Point, VA, United States.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luckenbach
authors.affiliation: Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
authors.forename: Charles P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017756:Aquaculture / Q000379:methods*; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000502:physiology*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D006801:Humans; D011235:Predatory Behavior
keywords: Clam farming; Clam gardens; Intertidal habitat; Predator protection