Atlantic Surfclam

About The Species
Atlantic surfclams are distributed from the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Cape Hatteras, NC. The U.S. fishery generally concentrates on the populations off the coasts of New Jersey and the Delmarva Peninsula. Dredge and hand harvest are authorized in the commercial fishery, with hydraulic clam dredges being the primary gear type used. The recreational fishery is limited to hand harvest. Surfclams are generally processed for human consumption in soups, chowders, and stews; while a small portion of landings are also sold in the bait market. U.S. wild-caught Atlantic surfclam is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations. Implementing regulations are found at 50 CFR part 648 subpart E.

Population Level
Above target population level.

Fishing Status
At recommended level.

Habitat Impacts
Fishing gear used to harvest surfclams has negative impacts to habitat, but the fishery is managed to minimize these impacts, particularly to sensitive habitat.

Bycatch
Fishing gear used to harvest surfclams is designed to minimize bycatch.
Status
- According to the 2016 stock assessment the surfclam stock is not overfished and is not subject to overfishing. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
Appearance
- Surfclams are the largest bivalves found in the western North Atlantic.
- They grow up to 8.9 inches, although clams larger than 7.9 inches are rare.
- Their shells are thick, triangular, and yellowish-white with rounded edges and concentric ridges.
- Shells do not close fully and gape slightly.
Biology
- Surflclams can live up to 35 years.
- On average, surfclams living in open water live longer than those living inshore.
- Surfclams grow fast, reaching a harvestable size of about 5 inches in 5 to 7 years.
- Growth rates depend on water temperature—southern surfclam populations in warmer water grow more slowly than the more northern populations.
- Some are able to reproduce by age 1, but most spawn by the end of their second year.
- Surfclams spawn from late spring through early fall.
- They shed their eggs and sperm directly into the water column.
- Larvae spend about 3 weeks in the water column as plankton before settling to the bottom to live.
- Surfclams are planktivorous filter feeders, straining tiny plants out of the water to eat.
- Larval surfclams eat algal cells.
- Adults primarily feed on diatoms, green algae, and naked flagellates.
- Snails, crabs, shrimp, and fish, including haddock and cod, feed on surfclams.
Where They Live
- Atlantic surfclams are found in the western North Atlantic from the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
- They’re most abundant on Georges Bank, the south shore of Long Island, New Jersey, and the Delmarva Peninsula.
Management
- NOAA Fisheries, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, and state resource management agencies manage the surfclam fishery.
- Managed under the Surfclam-Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan:
- Fishermen must have a permit to harvest surfclams.
- Individual transferable quota (catch shares) program – managers set an annual catch limit for federal waters and allocate it among individual fishermen or vessel owners. These quotas can be sold or leased.
- Minimum size, which can be suspended by managers if they can demonstrate the harvest of small surfclams is below a certain threshold.
- Closed areas due to environmental degradation or to toxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).
- Fishermen harvesting surfclams from Georges Bank have additional requirements under the PSP testing protocol.
- Mandatory vessel monitoring systems.
- Fishermen must maintain and submit logbooks of each fishing trip to document catch.
- Surfclams support valuable fisheries in New Jersey and New York state waters (within 3 miles of shore); state authorities are responsible for managing these fisheries.
Featured News

Recreational Fishing Regulations
There are currently no recreational regulations for the Atlantic surfclam fishery. Check state regulations for possible additional restrictions. There may also be areas closed to the harvesting of Atlantic surfclams.
Recreational anglers must still comply with minimum fish size regulations for all recreational fisheries. Visit our permit office or recreational fishing pages for more information.
Reporting A Recreational Catch
This is not applicable for the Atlantic surfclam fishery. Visit the Greater Atlantic Region's recreational fishing page for more information about recreational reporting in general.
More Information
Commercial Fishing Regulations
Possession and Size Requirements
There are no specified possession or trip limits in the Atlantic surfclam fishery. Instead, catch is limited on an annual basis according to each individual fishing quota (IFQ) holder’s annual allocation. Each permit holder essentially has their own personal quota/limit for the year, and the rate at which they harvest it is up to them.
The minimum length for surfclams is 4.75 inches. Length is measured at the longest dimension of the surfclam shell. No more than 50 surfclams in any cage may be less than the minimum size limit. If more than 50 surfclams in any inspected cage of surfclams are less than 4.75 inches in length, all cages landed on that trip are deemed to be in violation of the minimum size restriction. However, the minimum size limit is considered on an annual basis, and may be suspended. To determine if there is currently a minimum size limit for Atlantic surfclams, you may call the Sustainable Fisheries Division at (978) 281-9315.
Current Atlantic Surfclam Specifications (January 1-December 31, 2019)
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) | 29,363 mt |
---|---|
Annual Catch Limit (ACL) | 29,363 mt |
Annual Catch Target (ACT) | 29,363 mt |
Commercial Quota | 3.4 million bushels (bu) |
Conversions
- 1 metric ton (mt) = 2,204.622 pounds (lb)
- 1 Atlantic surfclam bushel = 17 lb
Reporting A Commercial Catch
Catch Reporting and Vessel Trip Reports (VTR)
The owner or operator of any vessel issued an Atlantic surfclam permit must maintain on board the vessel and submit to NOAA Fisheries an accurate Atlantic surfclam report for all fishing trips. Atlantic surfclam reports must be postmarked or received within 3 days after the end of each reporting week. More information on Atlantic Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Fishery Trip Reporting, please see our Frequently Asked Questions.
Additionally, if species other than Atlantic surfclam or ocean quahog are being retained on a trip, an additional VTR must be submitted to NOAA Fisheries as well. More information and instructions for completing VTRs can be found on our region's reporting page.
Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)
Any vessel issued an Atlantic surfclam permit is required to have an operational VMS. More information on VMS position reporting for this fishery can be found on our Surfclam/Quahog Reporting Frequently Asked Questions.
Other Reporting Information
The Atlantic surfclam fishery does not have any Interactive Voice Response (IVR) or specific observer requirements. However, all federally permitted vessels are obligated to carry an observer if randomly selected by the National Observer Program.
Commercial Gear Information
There are no specific gear requirements in the Atlantic surfclam fishery. However, all vessels issued a federal permit for the fishery and using cages must tag all cages that contain surfclams or ocean quahogs before offloading with a valid tag.
Federal Cage Tags
At the beginning of each fishing year, the approved vendor for cage tags is announced, and each individual fishing quota (IFQ) allocation permit is issued instructions for ordering the appropriate cage tags. The number of tags authorized for each permit holder is based on the owner's initial allocation and any allocation received through transfers. Each tag represents 32 bushels of clams.
A tag must be fixed on or as near as possible to the upper crossbar of the cage, and is required for every 60 ft3 (1,700 L) of cage volume, or portion thereof. The tag or tags must not be removed until the cage is emptied by the processor; at which time the processor must promptly remove and retain the tag(s) for 60 days beyond the end of the calendar year, unless otherwise directed by authorized law enforcement agents. If a vessel fishing under an IFQ allocation is not a capable of carrying cages, it must offload unshucked surfclams or ocean quahogs into properly tagged cages.
Tags expire at the end of the fishing year for which they are issued. If your tags are lost or stolen, you must notify NOAA Fisheries, with the number of the lost/stolen tags, by telephone at (978) 281-9177 as soon as the loss or theft is discovered and in writing within 24 hours. After a report is received, the reported tags are no longer valid for use. Lost or stolen tags may be replaced if the proper notice was provided. Replacement tags may be purchased from the vendor with a written authorization from NOAA Fisheries.
Subsistence Fishing Regulations
Surfclam/Quahog Reporting FAQ
Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Trip Reporting and VMS Positioning FAQ
Trip Reporting
Fishing vessels with a permit for surf clams and/or ocean quahogs issued by NOAA Fisheries' Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) must report every fishing trip in one of the two following ways. This includes trips within state waters and trips targeting other species.
- A vessel on an Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) trip must use tags and the Fishing Trip Record (Shellfish)/clam logbook for reporting.
- A vessel on a non-ITQ trip (e.g., in state waters with state tags) must report using Vessel Trip Reports (VTRs) for their activities. More information about VTRs can be found on our reporting page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: If I'm fishing in federal waters harvesting clams under an ITQ permit, which form do I use?
A: Use the clam logbook to report these trips
Q: If I'm fishing under an ITQ permit, do I have to report any whelks, scallops or other species that I catch?
A: Yes, report any other species that you catch on a VTR. This is in addition to reporting in the clam logbook.
Q: If I'm fishing in state waters and using state-issued tags, do I need to report to NOAA/GARFO?
A: Yes, report these trips using the VTR form. States may also have additional reporting requirements, so check with your state marine fisheries agency.
Q: Do all species caught from state water trips need to be reported?
A: Yes, report all species caught on the VTR form.
Q: If my boat is in another fishery, do I still have to report to NOAA/GARFO?
A: Yes, you must report all fishing trips as required under a surfclam and ocean quahog permit.
Q: If I do not fish, do I still have to report?
A: No, as of the Omnibus Amendment in August 2015, vessels no longer need to send in negative fishing reports (i.e., “did not fish” reports) during weeks when vessels are inactive. However, this is when no trips were taken and does not include trips where nothing was caught.
Q: When are reports due to NOAA/GARFO?
A: Clam logbook reports for ITQ trips are due by the first Tuesday following the week the trip(s) occurred. If the vessel also holds a Northeast multispecies, Atlantic herring, or any Atlantic mackerel, longfin squid, lllex squid, or butterfish permits, VTRs are due at the same time. All other VTRs are due within 15 days of the end of the month in which the trip(s) occurred.
Q: Do these requirements apply to the Maine mahogany quahog fishery?
A: Yes, like the ITQ fishery, you must report your catch of ocean quahogs on the clam logbook, and any other species on a VTR.
VMS Positioning
All surfclam and/or ocean quahog ITQ vessels (SF-1 and OQ-6 permits) must have a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) that is transmitting positions at all times unless on an approved power down exemption. This applies to Maine Mahogany Quahog vessels (OQ-7) as well.
Questions and Answers
Q: If my vessel is fishing in a non-ITQ fishery, such as inside state waters, does my VMS unit need to be turned on?
A: Yes, it must be on and transmitting 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, regardless of fishing activity.
Q: How do I obtain a power down exemption?
A: You may obtain a power down exemption form by contacting our Office of Law Enforcement's VMS team at 978-281-9213 or online on our enforcement page. You may also contact your local port agent for assistance.
Q: Where can I find information describing these requirements?
A: For more information on VMS, visit our region's VMS reporting page. Check the Atlantic Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Fishery Management Plan for more information. You may also contact Doug Potts, Sustainable Fisheries Division, at (978) 281-9341.
More Information
Management Overview
The Atlantic surfclam fishery is managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, with NOAA Fisheries serving as the implementing body for rules and regulations within the fishery. This fishery was established in 1977, and with the exception of the Maine mahogany quahog zone portion of the fishery, has operated under an individual transferable quota (ITQ) management system since 1990.
The fishing year runs from January 1 through December 31, with NOAA Fisheries jurisdiction covering from Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.
There are five areas closed to harvesting of Atlantic surfclams. For more information on these areas, visit our Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Closed Area page.
Specifications/Quotas
The Atlantic Surfclam Fishery Management Plan (FMP) requires the annual specification of catch and harvest limits for up to three years at a time. If specifications are not in place at the start of the fishing year, the existing specifications roll over until new regulations are finalized.
Current Atlantic Surfclam Specifications (January 1-December 31, 2019)
Acceptable Biological Catch (ABC) | 29,363 mt |
---|---|
Annual Catch Limit (ACL) | 29,363 mt |
Annual Catch Target (ACT) | 29,363 mt |
Commercial Quota | 3.4 million bushels (bu) |
Conversions
- 1 metric ton (mt) = 2,204.622 pounds (lb)
- 1 Atlantic surfclam bushel = 17 lb
Inseason Actions
There are provisions for the closing or opening of areas inseason, pending review.
Accountability Measures (AM)
If the ACL for Atlantic surfclam is exceeded, and the overage can be attributed to one or more ITQ allocation holder(s), the full amount of the overage will be deducted from the appropriate ITQ allocation in the following fishing year. Any amount of an ACL overage that cannot be otherwise attributed to an ITQ allocation holder will be deducted from the ACL in the following fishing year.
Regulatory History
- 1977 – Original FMP for Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog approved.
- 1979 – Amendment 1 extended the moratorium in surfclam fishery through 1979.
- 1979 – Amendment 2 extended the FMP through 1981, divided the surfclam portion of the management unit into the New England and Mid-Atlantic Area, and introduced a “bad weather make up day.”
- 1981 – Amendment 3 extended the FMP indefinitely; also imposed a 5.5-inch minimum size limit, expanded fishing week, and put quota setting on a framework basis.
- 1984 – Amendment 4 increased maximum clam quotas and altered allocation distribution methods. It was implemented on an emergency basis for 180 days beginning 1 July 1984, but was subsequently determined structurally complete for review.
- 1985 – Amendment 5 extended size limit and required that cages be tagged.
- 1986 – Amendment 6 divided the New England Area into the Nantucket Shoals and Georges Bank Areas, the dividing line being 69° N. longitude.
- 1987 – Amendment 7 changed the quota distribution on Georges Bank to equal quarterly quotas.
- 1988 – Amendment 8 established an ITQ system; also allowed minimum size to be suspended from year to year, merged the New England and Mid-Atlantic areas into one management area, and authorized an experimental fishery for information purposes.
- 1991 – Size limit suspended for the year's fishing season due to the relatively low abundance of pre-recruit-sized clams (less than 4.3 inches) and the likely incentive under Amendment 8 to target beds of larger surfclams.
- 1996 – Amendment 9 revised overfishing definitions in response to scientific review by NMFS.
- 1998 – Amendment 10 placed a moratorium on entry to the Maine EEZ fishery.
- 1998 – Amendment 11 achieved consistency among Mid-Atlantic and New England FMPs on vessel replacement and upgrade provisions, permit history transfer and splitting and renewal regulations for fishing vessels issued Northeast Limited Access Federal Fishery permits.
- 1999 – Amendment 12 established new overfishing definitions, identified and described essential fish habitat, added framework adjustment procedure, and implemented operator permits.
- 2004 – Amendment 13 revised surfclam overfishing definition, addressed gear impacts to EFH, allowed for multi-year quotas, provided for a reversal of the suspension of the surfclam size limit, and allowed implementation of a mandatory vessel monitoring system (VMS).
- 2005 – Industry has lowest harvest since 2000, at 2.744 million bushels of surfclams, 81% of the 3.4 million bushel quota, due to market conditions.
- 2008 – Amendment 14 implemented standardized bycatch reporting methodology across Mid-Atlantic fisheries.
- 2008 – Framework 1 requires a vessel monitoring system (VMS) for vessels participating in the surfclam fishery to monitor closed areas and borders between state and Federal jurisdiction.
- 2011 – Amendment 16 specified mechanisms to set acceptable biological catch (ABC), annual catch limits (ACLs), and accountability measures (AMs).
- 2013 – Regulatory Amendment reopened a portion of the George Bank paralytic shellfish poisoning closed area to Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog harvesting. To harvest in the reopened area vessels must follow a paralytic shellfish poisoning protocol.
- 2015 – Amendment 15 implemented Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology.
- 2015 – Amendment 18 eliminated the requirement for vessel owners to submit "did not fish" reports for the time periods when their vessel was not fishing; removed some restrictions for vessel listings on Federal fishing permits.
- 2016 – Amendment 17 established a cost recovery program for the ITQ fishery; changes how biological reference points are incorporated into the FMP.
- 2017 – Amendment 19 implemented management measures to prevent the development of new, and the expansion of existing, commercial fisheries on certain forage species in the Mid-Atlantic.
Science Overview
The most recent stock assessment update for Atlantic surfclam was in 2016, where the stock was declared not overfished and overfishing was not occurring. The next assessment for surfclam is scheduled for 2020.
Research, Surveys, & Data
Atlantic Surfclam Stock Statuses Based on Most Recent (2016) Stock Assessment
Spawning Stock Biomass (SSB) | 46.355 million mt (2015) |
---|---|
SSBThreshold | 18.25 million mt |
SSB/SSBThreshold | 2.54 |
Overfished Definition | The stock is overfished when SSB < ½ SSBMSY |
Overfished? | No |
Fishing Mortality Rate (F) | 0.009 (2015) |
FThreshold | 0.03 |
F/FThreshold | 0.295 |
Overfishing Definition | Overfishing occurs when F > FMSY; where FMSY = M (natural mortality rate) |
Overfishing? | No |
Current Rebuilding Program? | No. Declared rebuilt. |
Next Stock Assessment | Assessment scheduled for 2020 |