The hatchery is where brood stock hard clams are spawned

Above: Carboys used to inoculate cages.

A large amount of food must be produced to feed the brood stock, larvae and post-set clams.

Above: Algae ready for harvest.

Above: Brood stock in Conditioning Tank.

Brood stock are brought into the hatchery 4 to 6 weeks before they are to be spawned.

Above: Female releasing eggs.

After 4 to 6 weeks the brood stock are manipulated into spawning. When clams spawn they release eggs or sperm into the water column where fertilization takes place.

The larval stage can last from 7 to 21 days depending on temperature and food quality. The larval tanks are supplied with filtered seawater and fed algae.

Above: Downwellers

The juveniles are then put into downwellers. Downwellers are open-ended cylinders that are suspended in a reservoir. The bottom of the cylinder has a fine mesh that supports the clams.

When the clams reach 1.6 mm they are moved to the outside nursery in either a raceway or upwelling system. When the clams reach 3 to 4mm they are then moved to a overboard nursery where they will stay until they are big enough to plant.

Below: Clam seed at 6-8mm

All information above provided by J. H. West Seafood, Inc.'s Hatchery Manager Susan Miller.