John Kraeuter co-authors article in 'Marine Pollution Bulletin'
John Kraeuter, Ph.D., adjunct faculty member in the Department of Marine Sciences, co-authored an article that was recently published in the Marine Pollution Bulletin.
The article, titled “Clam predator protection is effective and necessary for food production,” demonstrates the efficacy of predator protection f or clam farms in various habitats around the world.
According to the article, shellfish farmers commonly protect young seedling clams from predatory losses by covering farmed plots with netting or screening. Recent discussion of the effectiveness of protective nets or screens and their environmental effects has raised questions concerning the utility of the practice.
The authors provide data based on a review of more than 35 peer-reviewed articles as well as their own research that unequivocally shows that without the mesh protection, losses to small clams would be so severe that clam farming would be impossible. These same data also indicate that without protection, revitalization or restoration of clam flats with small hatchery produced seed would be very difficult.