Assesing Shellfish Habitat

To guide restoration efforts and fisheries management, a number of resource managers requested assistance in assessing shellfish habitat. To do this, we developed and implemented a simple and adaptable method to examine survival and growth of shellfish almost anywhere. This method has been used to help towns make decisions about siting of restoration efforts as well as inform resource managers about the effects of tidal restrictions.

We have also used this method to assess the survival and growth of oysters and quahogs every summer since 2003 at 4 standard locations around Cape Cod:  Barnstable Harbor, Cape Cod Bay in Brewster, Pleasant Bay in Orleans, and Wellfleet Harbor.  This ongoing study has allowed us to analyze trends in growth and survival of shellfish around the Cape, in hopes of identifying important factors.