Biological Feasibility of Mesh Bag Culture of the Northern Quahog, 'Mercenariamercenaria' (L.), in Soft-Bottom Sediments in Coastal Waters of Georgia

摘要

Growth and survival of the northern quahog, Mercenaria mercenaris (L.), weretested against stocking density, seed size, grow-out bag mesh diameter, and benthic environment in a maricultural application in cooperation with the Satilla Sea Farms, Inc., Colonel's Island, Georgia. The results show that the mesh bag line system of clam culture is a biologically feasible means of culturing quahogs in the soft-bottom areas of coastal Georgia. Seed greater than 6 mm should be utilized, and the size of the mesh bag needs to be small enough to retain seed. Overall, mesh size had little effect on growth or survival of clams. High stocking densities (3000) should be used initially, thinned to 1500 clams per bag after six months, thinned to 750 clams per bag after year one, and finally to 500 clams per bag for growth-to-market size in 1.5 years.