Projects study clams, striped bass

One of the four ongoing projects in Digby County, is managing the clam source to improve clams and clam stock in the basin. “The harvesters themselves are being very proactive in looking at putting in place measures to both improve the stocks themselves and to better manage when and how many clams are dug,” said Clean Annapolis River Project science coordinator Andy Sharpe.

CARP is working with a couple of different stakeholders for this project, which was initiated a few years ago.

Stakeholders include the Bay of Fundy Marine Resource Centre, the Clam Harvesters Association and provincial and federal agencies.

There are a variety of problems about clams in Digby County, he said. “Obviously, there are closures of the beaches due to huge contamination.”

Digby’s sewage treatment plant is an example of a contamination source. “The other problem would be basically limited numbers of clams,” he continued. “There’s a variety of group stakeholders now working together to better manage the clam stocks themselves to try to grow more clams and manage the clams that are there.”

Research is also being done as to how many clams are present and how many can be dug on a sustainable basis, he explained.

The group is seeking to use low cost and low-tech methods to try to encourage more spat settlement.

Juvenile clams—spat—are present in the water column and float around until they find a place to settle and grow into mature clams. “We’re working this summer with the Marine Resource Centre that received some funding to look into these methods of enhancement,” said Sharpe.

He said it was from the Clam Harvesters Association’s work in reseeding clam beds in the past that allowed the Marine Resource Centre to receive the grant. “I think clams unlike many other fisheries can be brought back,” he said with confidence.

A second project on the go in Digby County is monitoring striped bass.

For the past five years, striped bass have been listed as a species at risk in the Bay of Fundy, estimated Sharpe.

CARP is working with the Nova Scotia Agriculture College to investigate why there are few water systems in Nova Scotia that support striped bass.

This summer Sharpe said they are monitoring water quality and finding out if there are habitat issues.

Striped bass fishermen interested in participating in the study can contact CARP at 532-7533. ldelong@digbycourier.ca