The virginia hard shell clam (mercenaria mercenaria) farming industry is the largest in the united states and the foundation of a major regional U.S. Aquaculture industry

Ballard Fish & Oyster Co., LLC (operating as Cherrystone Aqua-Farms) received a $307,468 Project Grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Grants for Agricultural Research, Special Research Grants program (CFDA 10.200) beginning September 1, 2025, and concluding August 31, 2027. The award funds a large-scale research initiative to investigate factors affecting hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) survival and growth rates in the Virginia farming industry, which represents the largest hard clam farming sector in the United States. The project will conduct experimental studies on operating clam farms to examine the impact of farming practices, growing location, genetics, and disease on hard clam production and mortality rates.

The research initiative delivers comprehensive data collection and industry coordination services designed to address recent production losses and unusually high mortality rates reported by East Coast hard clam farmers. Key deliverables include large-scale farm-based experiments, industry stakeholder meetings along the East Coast to share observations and identify mortality causes, and analytical findings that will inform future farm management practices. The project results will provide the hard clam farming industry with evidence-based guidance to improve production sustainability and economic viability across Virginia and the broader United States aquaculture sector.

In recent years, hard clam farmers along the east coast, including several virginia companies, have reported production issues and unusually high death rates. To understand why, industry experts and scientists will run a large-scale experiment on operating clam farms to study how farming practices, growing location, genetics, and disease may affect hard clam survival and growth. Hard clam farmers and industry affiliates along the east coast will meet to share observations and discuss possible reasons behind the recent hard clam mortality. This project is an important first step in tackling a serious problem for the U.S. Hard clam industry. Project findings and data will help guide future farm management, ensuring the virginia and united states industry remainstrong and successful.