Softshell Clam Culture: Basic Biology and General Culture Considerations

The softshell clam, Mya arenaria, (Figure 1) is an ecologically important bivalve mollusk that is harvested recreationally and commercially from coastal waters of the western North Atlantic. As with all bivalve mollusks, they possess two valves or shells that are connected by a hinge. The pair of whitish/gray shells surrounds and protects a mantle, visceral mass and muscular foot. The elongate shells are relatively thin and brittle, leading to the name “softshell. ” Unlike hard clams and oysters, the softshell clam cannot close its shells completely, resulting in a gape most notable at the anterior and posterior ends. As such, softshell clams are damaged more readily and can have a shorter shelf-life than do similar-size oysters or hard clams. A shelf-life of 7 to 10 days can be expected when the animal is kept cool, approximately 3