Clam Committee Partnership to Focus on Sustainable Fishing

As part of the partnership the Foundation has established a five year grant designed to help fund the new Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCeMFiS), a public-private effort to support research on sustainable fisheries in the Mid-Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions. In creating SCeMFis the partners hope to help federal and state agencies generate the necessary scientific data to determine stock assessment and fishery health.

The National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950, promotes the “progress of science; advances the national health, prosperity, and welfare.” It is considered the leading research organisation in the country.

The NFI Clam Committee’s own long history of sponsoring sustainability research makes this new partnership an exciting one. Clam Committee Chairman, Guy Simmons of Sea Watch International, believes the National Science Foundation’s support of SCeMFis is a testament to their valued research.

“This additional support for SCeMFiS will add to the research available to managers and help ensure America’s clam fisheries remain healthy and robust. The fact that the NFI Clam Committee is involved in this important partnership with the National Science Foundation illustrates our members’ commitments to the long term health of the nation’s marine resources,” said Mr Simmons.

Initial areas of clam research will involve survey data quality, optimal survey clam density, and spawning stock biomass. The SCeMFiS work will be directed by highly regarded fisheries scientists, Dr Eric Powell of the University of Southern Mississippi and Professor Roger Mann of William and Mary’s Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

Established more than 20 years ago, the NFI Clam Committee helps ensure sustainability by sponsoring independent research. Members include Atlantic Shellfish, Blount Fine Foods, Galilean Seafood, J H Miles & Company, Sea Watch International, and Snow’s Doxsee.