Clam Industry Workshop to be Held February 2

The annual Clam Industry Workshop will be held on Wednesday, February 2 at the Community Center in Cedar Key from 1:00 to 4:30 PM. The workshop allows research and extension faculty from the University of Florida and Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute at Florida Atlantic University to provide updates on a variety of applied research projects.

A session at this year`s workshop will focus on the potential of sunray venus culture and marketability. Over the past five years, researchers along with industry partners have developed, tested, and demonstrated technical methods to culture this attractive, native clam. Results of seed production, nursery and growout field trials, and consumer acceptance studies will be reported.

In addition, ongoing efforts in broodstock development, production evaluation at existing lease areas, examination of wholesale market product attributes, and sensory, nutritional, and shelf life assessments will be presented. The session will end with a discussion of what is known and not known about the advancement of this alternative aquaculture species to commercialization.

Other project updates at this workshop include stock improvement through backcrossing hybrid clams, selection for heat tolerance in clams using biomarkers, water quality and temperature variability monitoring, and aqueous soil properties of clam leases under varying cultivation efforts. After the presentations, participants will have an opportunity to provide feedback and discussion.

The workshop will end with a social hour, hosted by the Cedar Key Aquaculture Association, from 4:30 to 5:30 pm during which results of the sunray venus field trials will be served. Members of the clam farming industry, as well as the public, are invited to attend. If you have any questions, please contact Leslie Sturmer, UF Shellfish Aquaculture Extension Program at (352) 543-5057 or LNST@ufl.edu.