Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons^™

Investigation Of Early Development And Importance Of Sediment Choice In The Hatchery Production Of Razor Clams, Ensis Directus, Molly P. Flanagan

Honors College

Ensis directus, commonly known as the razor clam, is a bivalve species that lives in temperate sub-polar regions of the Atlantic Ocean. It is an infaunal species found in shallow, subtidal, sedimentary habitats. A recent increase in the market value for razor clams has resulted in heightened interest in the culture of this species. The experimental hatchery at the University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center began work in 2012 to develop improved hatchery and grow-out techniques for this species. For my thesis, razor clam embryos from both spontaneous and controlled spawns were observed via video and still imagery to document …