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Clams

Clams are plentiful in BC coastal waters  Taxonomy
Phylum: Mollusca
Class: Bivalvia
Order: Veneroida
Family: Veneridae

Distribution

Butter Clams

Common in protected beaches in bays and estuaries along BC coast.

Littleneck Clams
 Common in protected beaches in bays and estuaries along BC coast, and near rocky outcrops on outer coast.
Manila Clams
  Exotic species; common in protected beaches in bays and estuaries in Georgia Strait and west coast of Vancouver Island; small isolated populations in Queen Charlotte Strait and around Bella Bella.
Razor Clams
  Occur only on surf-swept beaches in Long Beach region on the west coast of Vancouver Island and on beaches east of Masset on the northeast coast of Graham Island in the Queen Charlotte Islands.

Butter Clams are one species found in BCHabitat

Butter Clams:

Variety of substrates but typically occur in beaches of porous sand, broken shell, gravel and mud; may occur in association with littleneck clam; burrow to a maximum depth of 25 cm; planktonic larvae are dispersed by currents; adults remain in same burrow for life. Littleneck Clams can be harvested in BC

Littleneck Clams:

Firm, gravel beaches; often in association with butter clam; burrow to a maximum depth of 15 cm, but usually 3-8 cm below surface; planktonic larvae dispersed by currents; adults remain in same burrow for life. Manila Clams are found on some BC beaches

Manila Clams:

Sand-gravel beaches; burrow just below surface, to maximum depth of approximately 10 cm; planktonic larvae dispersed by currents; adults remain in same location for life. Razor Clams

Razor Clams:

Sandy, exposed beaches; usually burrows from just below surface to a depth of 25 cm; can burrow to depths greater than 60 cm in less than a minute; planktonic larvae dispersed by currents; do not form permanent burrows.


Tidal Elevation

Butter Clams

Lower third of intertidal zone; may occur to 15 m subtidal depth

Littleneck Clams
 Slightly above mid-intertidal to subtidal; may occur to 12 m subtidal depth
Manila Clams
 From 1 m intertidal zone to well above mid-intertidal level; does not inhabit subtidal; limited spatial competition with native clams.
Razor Clams
  Mid-tide level to 20 m subtidal depth.

Growth Rate

Butter Clams

Slow; sexually mature at 38 mm (about 3 yr.); legal size of 63 mm is reached in 5-6 yr. in Strait of Georgia, 7-8 yr. in Alert Bay and after 9 yr. in north coast. 

Littleneck Clams
 Slow; sexually mature at 25 mm (about 2 yr.); legal size of 38 mm is reached in 3.5 yr. in Strait of Georgia and 5-6 yr. in north coast. 
Manila Clams
 Slow; sexually mature at 20 mm (about 2 yr.); legal size of 38 mm is reached in 3.5 yr. in Strait of Georgia and 5-6 yr. in north coast. 
Razor Clams
 Variable, fastest at lower beach levels; sexually mature after 1 yr. in south and 3 yr. in north; minimum legal size of 90 mm is reached in 1-2 yr. at Long Beach and 3-4 yr. on Queen Charlotte Islands; largest and oldest clams found in BC are from Queen Charlotte Islands. 

Source: Fisheries and Oceans Canada

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