Shellfish harvesters working the flats near Camden say warming coastal waters have visibly changed harvest patterns over the past decade, with some traditional soft-shell clam areas becoming less productive while other shellfish species have expanded into areas where they were once rare.
Marine scientists monitoring the Midcoast say water temperature changes are affecting predator populations as well as the shellfish themselves, complicating efforts to predict how specific harvest areas will perform from year to year. Harvesters describe a level of unpredictability that makes long-term planning difficult.
Adapting Harvest Practices
Local shellfish committees have adjusted seasonal closures and rotational harvesting schedules in response to the changing conditions, an approach that requires more frequent monitoring than in past decades. Some harvesters have begun diversifying into species better suited to warmer water as a hedge against continued change.
State marine resource officials say continued monitoring investment will be essential to help coastal communities adapt harvest practices as conditions continue to shift in the years ahead.
