Soft Shell Clams

The soft shell clam (also called a steamer or longneck clam), Mya arenaria, is commonly found in soft substrate, buried fairly deeply (4-12") in intertidal or very shallow waters.  The long neck of the soft shell allows it to reach up to the sediment surface so that the siphons can pump water in and out, allowing food particle filtration and respiration.  Like their name indicates, the shells of these clams are rather thin and can easily be broken when being dug from the sediment.  Also as the name suggests, steamer clams are most popular eaten steamed.

Soft shell clams can be very abundant periodically and often support a local recreational and commercial fishery.  The Cape Cod Cooperative Extension researched culture and seeding methods, as well as methods to attract natural set of these shellfish.