Assessment Of Surf Clam Stocks In Nearshore Waters Along The Delmarva Peninsula And In The Fishery South Of Cape Henry

Authors

Joseph G. Loesch, Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Document Type

Article

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

1977

Journal

Proceedings of the National Shellfisheries Association

Volume

67

First Page

29

Last Page

34

Abstract

In 1974 the abundance of surf clams was sampled from Delmarva Peninsula, Delaware south to North Carolina. Surf clams were not found in commercial densities in the inshore waters along the Delmarva Peninsula. Off shore and south of Cape Henry, an area of intense surf clam fishing, the estimated standing crop was IO million bushels. A length-age relationship was estimated and it implies that recruitment to the fishery occurs at approximately age 2, at an average annual rate of about 8%. It is concluded that because of the low recruitment rate relative to the heavy fishing pressure that Virginia surf clam stocks have been overharvested in recent years.

Recommended Citation

Loesch, Joseph G., Assessment Of Surf Clam Stocks In Nearshore Waters Along The Delmarva Peninsula And In The Fishery South Of Cape Henry (1977). Proceedings of the National Shellfisheries Association, 67, 29-34.
https://scholarworks.wm.edu/vimsarticles/1266