Commission approves three-year phase-out of mechanical clam harvest on public bottom

The Marine Fisheries Commission voted to adopt Amendment 3 to the hard clam fishery management plan, approving a three-year phase-out of mechanical clam harvest on public bottom and discontinuing the allowance for mechanical harvest tied to maintenance dredging.

Division presentation: Lorena De La Garza and Jeff Dobbs explained the recommendation was prompted by habitat concerns and sharply declining participation in the mechanical clam fishery, which is now at the lowest levels on record. The amendment favors habitat protection for areas subject to bottom-disturbing harvest gears and allows mechanical harvest to continue on some private leased bottoms through case-by-case permitting.

Debate and concerns: Commissioners and public speakers raised fairness concerns about allowing mechanical harvest to continue on private leases while phasing out public-bottom mechanical harvest. Division staff said private leases are already permitted, generally occur in deeper areas that lack seagrass, and will be evaluated case by case.

Vote and implementation: The motion to adopt Amendment 3 (including the phase-out and discontinuing mechanical harvest with maintenance dredging) passed 6–3. The division will roll out messaging in 2027–28 and implement the phase-out fully by May 2028; mechanical gear may still be used on private leased bottom where permitted.

Next steps: staff will prepare rule changes where required, communicate the phase-out timeline to harvesters and stakeholders, and handle permitting questions for private leases on a case-by-case basis.