Species Regional Summary
Mya arenaria
Alaskan panhandle to N. of Puget Sound ( NEP-III )

Invasion History Vectors Impacts References

Invasion

Invasion Description

1st records: Tacoma/WA/Puget Sound (1888, introduced from Willapa Bay, Smith 1896, cited by Carlton 1979; Carlton 2023a); Vancouver Island/British Columbia/Departure Bay, Straits of Georgia (Taylor 1895, cited by Carlton 1979; Carlton 2023a)

Geographic Extent

Ketchikan/AK/Tongass Narrows (1946, Hanna 1966; Carlton 2023a); Graham Island, Haida Gwai (Queen Charlotte Islands)/British Columbia/Naden Harbour (1955, Quayle 1960, cited by Carlton 1979); Graham Island, Queen Charlotte Islands/British Columbia/Masset Inlet (1939, Quayle 1943, cited by Carlton 1979; Carlton 2023); Prince Rupert/British Columbia/Hecate Straits (1955, Quayle 1960, cited by Carlton 1979; 2008; Choi et al. 2016); Kitimat/British Columbia/Kitimat Arm, Douglas Channel (2008, Choi et al. 2016); Vancouver Island/British Columbia/Mud Bay (2007, Mach et al. 2016); British Columbia/Clayoquot Sound (Newcomb 1893, cited by Carlton 1979; Carlton 2023); Vancouver Island/British Columbia/Barkley Sound (Quayle and Bernard 1966, cited by Carlton 1979); Vancouver Island/British Columbia/Cowichan Bay (2007, Mach et al. 2017 Port Alberni, Vancouver Island/British Columbia/Alberni Inlet (2007, Mach et al. 2016; Kitimat/BC/Kitimat Arm, Douglas Channel (2008, Choi et al. 2016); Vancouver Island/British Columbia/Departure Bay, Straits of Georgia (Taylor 1895, cited by Carlton 1979); ; Mayne Island/British Columbia/Straits of Georgia (Schrenk 1945, cited by Carlton 1979); Coffin Island/British Columbia/Straits of Georgia (1936, Quayle 1970, cited by Carlton 1979); British Columbia/Boundary Bay (1976, Swinbanks and Murray 1981); San Juan Islands/WA/Straits of Juan de Fuca (Smith 1896, cited by Carlton 1979); Orcas Island/WA/Straits of Juan de Fuca (Baker 1910, cited by Carlton 1979); San Juan Island/WA/Friday Harbor (Oldroyd 1918, cited by Carlton 1979); Bellingham/WA/Bellingham Bay (MacGinitie 1959, cited by Carlton 1979); WA/Padilla Bya (Riggs 2011); WA/Skagit Bay Porter (1973, cited by Carlton 1979); Tacoma/WA/Puget Sound (1888, introduced from Willapa Bay, Smith 1896, cited by Carlton 1979; Carlton 2023a); WA/Mud Bay, Eld Inlet, Puget Sound (2000, Cohen et al. 2001); Magnolia Park, Seattle/WA/Elliott Bay, Puget Sound (2000, Cohen et al. 2001); Seattle/WA/Kellogg Island Passage, Elliott Bay, Puget Sound (2000, Cohen et al. 2001); WA/Neah Bay (2001, de Rivera et al. 2005); WA/Discovery Bay (1999, Wilson and Partridge 2007)

Vectors

Level Vector
Probable Fisheries Intentional

Regional Impacts

Economic ImpactFisheries
In Washington, they are less popular than Butter Clams (Saxidomus gigantea) or Littlenecks (Leukoma staminea- Pacific Littleneck; Venerupis philippinarum- Japanese Littleneck). However, commercial culture is taking place on private grounds in Skagit Bay and Port Susan (Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife 2012, http://wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfish/clams/eastern_softshell.html). In British Columbia, they are occasionally harvested recreationally, but fisheries are often closed due to red tides (British Columbia Provincial Government, http://www.shim.bc.ca/species/softshel.htm).
 

References

Full Reference List for Mya arenaria

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