Colin S. Woodard wrote a fine, balanced report (“Mainer sees success in commercial clam farm, but not everyone loves the project,” Aug. 2), explaining to readers serious issues currently confronting the soft-shell clam industry in Maine. The article highlighted a demonstration project conducted under the auspices of the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences, a nonprofit.
There are some issues raised in the article that would benefit from being expanded upon, and additional points to be considered.
I am a landowner abutting the project site, which is located in a flat well-documented to be subproductive over three to five years.
It’s great to use aquaculture on these subproductive flats to bring them into full economic and ecological viability. Farming currently naturally productive clam flats would be like sending coal to West Virginia – not a viable economic choice.
Suppose there comes a great natural clam spat set in a subproductive clam flat? The green crabs would devour most, if not all, the small clams before they have a chance to reach market size, because the small clams will not be protected by netting.
State shellfish program supervisor Denis-Marc Nault’s data (referenced in Woodard’s article), which indicate no documented regional jeopardy, are no doubt correct for pooled statewide statistics. Valid data from local communities, however, document the collapse of their soft-shell clam industry.
John A. “Jay” Holt
Georgetown
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