Evidence from Controlled Harvests for Potential Economic Benefits from Management of Soft-Shell Clams (Mya arenaria)

Abstract

In Maine, depurators are operators licensed to harvest mildly polluted clam flats and then to cleanse the clams of coliform bacteria before they are sold. Because depuration licensing is, in effect, a very restrictive limited-entry program, yields by depurators provide an indication of the maximum economic benefits that are possible from management of clam flats. Estimated yields of soft-shell clams per digger-day were 60% higher for depuration diggers than for diggers on completely unmanaged flats. The current management program of locally restricted access to uncontaminated flats increases yields by 15% over those from unmanaged areas, which is only a quarter of the potential benefits of alternative management programs.