Alaskan Clam Survey: Coastal Alaskan Clam Populations

Project description

Observational data suggest that clam populations have been declining throughout the state of Alaska over the last decade. While the Alaska Department of Fish and Game conducts targeted clam distribution and abundance studies, it is impossible for the agency to undertake such studies at every beach across Alaska. The goal of this project is to utilize local observations to help us better understand clam population dynamics across Alaska, and give us a sense of how clam populations have changed over time. The College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at UAF is looking for observations of where certain clam species can be found and how that is changing seasonally or annually. This can help us understand how clam species are distributed across the coastline, and the abundance of each species in certain areas.

Whether you are going clamming or simply walking along the beach, dig in the sand a little bit, see if you find any clams, and let us know what you find! Your help will not only add to our database but will also provide sound scientific information that can guide clam management decisions in the future. 

Background

The recreational and subsistence collection of clams is an important practice in communities across Alaska. The collection of shellfish has been limited across the state in previous years due to decline in populations, although the causes for the decline are not yet understood. Butter clam, razor clam, and littleneck clam populations within Kachemak Bay have been in decline for the past two centuries. Throughout Cook Inlet, razor clam harvests have declined from an average of 843,136 clams between 1969-2003 (29 clams per digger), to an average of 391,185 clams between 2004-2013 (15 clams per digger). This is almost a 50% decrease in harvest over the past 15 years. The severity of this decline has led to the closure of beaches to clammers until more can be understood about the health of shellfish populations.

Clam populations that are already in decline are likely more sensitive than other species to climate change as their habitats become more limited in resources and nutrients.  Researchers at the UAF College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences are currently investigating the effects of increased carbon dioxide on the physiology of two different clam species to understand their response and potential resilience to climate change on a molecular level. We need help from citizen scientists to understand how these environmental changes are impacting clam abundance and ecosystem level. With the help of citizen scientists marking when and where they find species throughout Alaska, we can begin to identify source and resilient populations where research efforts can be focused.

Observing Guidance:

We are asking that data be collected using the EpiCollect5 mobile app. The EpiCollect5 app is availble on iTunes and Google Play. Add the Clam Survey to get started! You will be able to open the app and record data even if you are in areas without cell service. 

Once you have downloaded EpiCollect5, and added the Clam Survey project, you are ready to help collect clam data. 

Each time you dig for clams, we are asking you to record the following information using EpiCollect:

1. Date
2. Time
3. Location
4. What type of substrate, or ground, you are in (sand, mud, clay, silt, or a combination)?
5. What species did you find? Take at least one photo of each of the clam species you encounter. When taking photos, leave the clams where they were and put a thumb next to them, so we can see their approximate size (this helps us determine their age)
6. How many of each species did you find?
7. How does this clamming season compare to previous years? 
8. How often per season do you go clamming here?
9. How long have you or your family been coming here to collect clams?
10. Do you clam for recreation or subsistence?

As a local resident, you know your area very well, and are best able to tell if anything in the environment has changed. As you are digging for clams, we would also like you to consider whether or not you observe any changes to the surrounding environment that may affect clam populations. Has the number of clams that you usually harvest changed this year compared to previous years? Are you noticing more sea mammal activity in the area? Have there been changes to the sea vegetation that you normally encounter? These are just questions to consider, but we are interested in hearing about any changes to the environment that you observe. Please send any observations of environmental change to observation@leonetwork.org

Source Data

This project will use a combination of the Epi Collect data, and other shellfish observations from LEO members, to see where current clam populations are, and where they’re shifting. These observations will be used alongside physiological data to understand the resilience of some clam species to climate change.

Thank you for any and all of the observations you can provide. If you have additional questions or would like to help in more ways, please email Ashley Rossin at arossin@alaska.edu