Morgan State Researchers Test Soft-Shell Clam Farming
Scientists are working to grow heat-tolerant clams in the Chesapeake Bay to diversify Maryland aquaculture.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Environmental
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As of October 2026, researchers at Morgan State University are testing selective breeding to reintroduce soft-shell clams to the Chesapeake Bay. The project aims to create a viable secondary aquaculture option for growers facing salinity and disease challenges.
Why it matters
The Chesapeake Bay's wild clam fisheries have been in decline since the 1970s, and current growers are looking for alternatives to diversify beyond oysters. Developing heat-resistant clam varieties could provide a stable new income source for Maryland watermen.
Researchers at the Patuxent Environmental and Aquatic Research Laboratory found that lab-bred clams succumb to temperatures at 84 degrees. Trials showed that while heat-resistant juveniles have higher survival rates, adult clams remain highly vulnerable.
The players
Morgan State University
This public research university in Maryland leads the aquaculture breeding program aimed at restoring clam populations.
Patuxent Environmental and Aquatic Research Laboratory
This facility serves as the primary site for conducting experimental aquaculture trials on clam and oyster resilience.
The details
Scientists are testing clam seeds planted under shaded nets to protect them from high summer water temperatures. Although initial adult trials resulted in total mortality, the team continues to refine methods, including using oyster shells for shade.
Timeline
Commercial wild clam fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay declined significantly after the 1970s.
All 350 adult clams in a trial died during a summer heat wave last year.
Researchers experimented with planting clam seeds beneath shaded nets in June and July this year.
In early October, researchers checked the results of their shaded net trial.
The Big Picture
This research follows a pattern set by the decline of Chesapeake Bay wild clam fisheries since the 1970s. The effort to develop aquaculture-ready clams marks a significant shift in regional strategy to restore shellfish populations through selective breeding.
The potential success of this aquaculture program could provide Maryland growers with a new market-ready product that matures within one year. This development may eventually lower the reliance on Maine, which currently accounts for 60% of the U.S. soft-shell clam supply.
The takeaway
While heat waves remain a significant hurdle for clam survival in the Chesapeake, the success of selective breeding in juvenile stages shows promise for future production. Growers are advised to closely monitor local water temperature trends to protect their investments during the summer.
What happens next
Researchers plan to expand hatchery operations to increase soft-shell clam seed production and will deploy 100 seeds per mat in future trials.
Further reading
Find more on regional efforts to restore bay ecosystems in our Environmental section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Bay Journal.
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