Leslie Sturmer

The economic feasibility of small‐scale, commercial culture of the southern bay scallop (Argopecten irradians concentricus)

Abstract The economic feasibility of culturing southern bay scallops for the whole consumption market was examined for a small‐scale prototype facility. Projections of financial performance of production systems utilizing rack and longline methods were conducted. Estimates of initial capital investment and annual operating costs were derived. An annual cash flow and enterprise budget were developed. Initial capital investment was approximately

Continuous water quality monitoring for the hard clam industry in Florida, USA

4,000. Annual operating costs were about

SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF RAPID SALINITY REDUCTION ON SEED CLAMS (MERCENARIA MERCENARIA)

2,600. Net returns for both systems were estimated to be approximately

The Economic Impact of the Florida Cultured Hard Clam Industry

1,100. A sensitivity analysis was conducted on key production and management variables to assess how sensitive profit was to changes in market price, stocking density, survival, marketability, and cost of seed and cages. The findings suggest that bay scallop culture is marginally profitable at a small‐scale.

Aquaculture and marketing of the Florida Bay Scallop in Crystal River, Florida

In 2000, Florida’s fast-growing hard clam aquaculture industry became eligible for federal agricultural crop insurance through the US Department of Agriculture, but the responsibility for identifying the cause of mortality remained with the grower. Here we describe the continuous water quality monitoring system used to monitor hard clam aquaculture areas in Florida and show examples of the data collected with the system. Systems recording temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, water depth, turbidity and chlorophyll at 30 min intervals were installed at 10 aquaculture lease areas along Florida’s Gulf and Atlantic coasts. Six of these systems sent data in real-time to a public website, and all 10 systems provided data for web-accessible archives. The systems documented environmental conditions that could negatively impact clam survival and productivity and identified biologically relevant water quality differences among clam aquaculture areas. Both the real-time and archived data were used widely by clam growers and nursery managers to make management decisions and in filing crop loss insurance claims. While the systems were labor and time intensive, we recommend adjustments that could reduce costs and staff time requirements.

Background Information to Assist Industry in the Development of Product Standards or Guidelines for Cultured Sunray Venus Clams

Abstract Sudden salinity drops in Gulf Coast clam growing areas in Florida have been suggested as a cause of seed (juvenile) clam mortality. Laboratory experiments were used to assess short-term impacts of rapid salinity drops on hatchery-produced juvenile northern quahog (=hard clam), Mercenaria mercenaria, in two separate trials. Mortality and condition index (CI) were measured as response parameters. In Trial I, clams were exposed to a salinity drop of 5 ppt, 15 ppt, or 24 ppt over a span of 24 h, and the duration of this exposure was either 3 or 6 days. In Trial II, clams were either immediately immersed or dry-stored for 24 h prior to immersion, representing common treatment patterns by clam growers. In this trial, clams were exposed to acute salinity drops of either 10 ppt or 20 ppt for up to 7 days. Both trials were conducted at ambient seasonal temperatures. Juvenile hard clams were surprisingly robust and resilient to changes in salinity, experiencing less than 5% mortality after relatively abrupt reductions in salinity of 10 to 15 ppt. Nonetheless, salinity declines of the magnitude occasionally observed at clam culture sites, up to 24 ppt, resulted in significant mortality; 17% (Trial I) and 100% (Trial II). Condition index (CI) was an insensitive response parameter. Dry storage of clams did not appear to have an effect on their ability to withstand changes in salinity; storage decreased final survival by <2.5%. Our results suggest that the salinity declines typically experienced at the Gulf Coast aquaculture sites are not of a magnitude or speed to account for the particular seed clam mortality events that spurred this research. However, long-term effects of salinity changes remain to be tested. In addition, reduced salinity may be indicative of a variety of other stressors, such as increased temperature and turbidity, or decreased phytoplankton concentration, which compound the effects of salinity on clam health and survival.

Nutritional Composition and Marketable Shelf-Life of Blood Ark Clams and Ponderous Ark Clams 1

Abstract The objective of this study was to estimate the economic impact on the Florida economy generated by the cultured hard clam industry. Florida certified shellfish wholesalers that handle Florida cultured hard clams were interviewed by telephone survey to determine the number and value of clams that they process, the sources of their clams, prices received, and the marketing channels (wholesale, retail, restaurant, and consumer) where they sell their clams. Of the three regions in the state, northwest Florida handled two-thirds of clams cultured in Florida. Firms obtained their clams from within their own region as well as from the other two regions in Florida. The Florida cultured hard clam wholesale and processing industry had

Acceptance of Sunray Venus Clams as a New Aquaculture Product in Florida

21.8 million in sales in 1999. Around 43 percent of these sales were within the state and 57 percent of them were to out-of-state locations, including international destinations. Regardless of the geographic destination of the cultured clams sold by clam firms, the majority was sold to other wholesalers. The total economic impact of the clam industry on Florida, after accounting for direct, indirect, and induced impacts, was

Organizational Structures and Strategies For the Hard Clam Aquaculture Industry in Florida

33.9 million in output,

Enhancing Seed AvailabilityFor the Hard Clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) Aquaculture IndustryBy Applying Remote Setting Techniques

9.0 million in labor income, and