Climatic Accelerating Maturing System

Students investigated the feasibility of accelerating the growth rate of the hard clam, "Mercenaria mercenaria", through extension of its growing season by transporting clams to South Carolina following a single growing season in Massachusetts. Comparisons between grow-out confined to Massachusetts and grow-out that includes both Massachusetts and South Carolina locations were made. The extra growth did not allow the clams to be harvested a year earlier as originally expected, thus the costs of transportation resulted in a negative rate of return. If, however, growth over the winter months in South Carolina could be improved, true economic gains could be realized.