Intertidal clam surveys of British Columbia - 1991 / by N.F. Bourne, G.D. Heritage and G. Cawdell.: Fs97-6/1972E-PDF

"Results of 1991 surveys to assess populations of commercially important intertidal clams on selected beaches in the Strait of Georgia, north coast district and Queen Charlotte Strait areas of British Columbia are presented. Butter clams, Saxidomus giganteus, were widely distributed on beaches throughout the sampling area. In general, a wide distribution of size and age classes indicated recruitment has been consistent in recent years. Littleneck clams, Protothaca staminea, were the most common clam species found in all sampling areas. A wide distribution of size and age classes indicated consistent recruitment in recent years. Manila clams, Tapes philippinarum, were found in the Strait of Georgia and Bella Bella areas but were scarce elsewhere. The northern boundary for manila clam populations in British Columbia is the Seaforth-Mathieson Channel area. Manila clams were not found in abundance south of the Bella Bella area (statistical area 7) and were rare in the Queen Charlotte Strait area. In locations where manila clams were found there was a preponderance of larger, older clams which may indicate erratic recruitment. Limited information is also presented on populations of cockles, Clinocardium nuttallii, horse clams, Tresus capax, and soft-shell clams, Mya arenaria found during the surveys. The potential for commercial exploitation of clam species found in the survey area is discussed"--Abstract, page ix.

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