Hard Clams

Mercenaria mercenaria

Support Hard Clam Restoration by Donating to our Hard Clam Fund

3% Cover the Fee

Contributions will be directed toward the Hard Clam restoration, research, and education initiatives of Back to the Bays, an Initiative of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, a registered 501(c)(3). Our EIN is 11-6081424 and contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Adopt a Clam

Help restore our Hard Clam population!

  • $50 ~ Produces + plants 1,000 seed clams

  • $100 ~ Supports a community paddle + plant event

Bolster our wild hard clam population by supporting aquaculture efforts in our hatchery and grow-out sites. Clams seeded in our sanctuary sites will grow and spawn, enhancing the local population. Clams improving water quality through filter-feeding and aerate sediment as they dig. Learn more about Species Adoptions

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Clam Blogs

Featured
SAG HARBOR SHELLFISH: THAT’S A WRAP FOR 2025!
SAG HARBOR SHELLFISH: THAT’S A WRAP FOR 2025!
The Life Cycle of a Clam
The Life Cycle of a Clam

Shellfish News

Featured
Southold Town Board evaluates housing program tied to state grants - North Fork Sun
Southold Town Board evaluates housing program tied to state grants - North Fork Sun

Aquaculture experts, Kate Rossi-Snook and Mike Patricio, from the CCE Marine Program’s Back to the Bays initiative delivered an annual report outlining a busy 2025 season of shellfish seeding and long-term restoration planning aimed at improving local water quality and sustaining the East End’s shellfishing traditions.

North Fork Polar Bears and Back to the Bays seed 130,000 clams in Cedar Beach Creek - North Fork Sun
North Fork Polar Bears and Back to the Bays seed 130,000 clams in Cedar Beach Creek - North Fork Sun

Last Sunday morning, a coalition of North Fork Polar Bears and the team of aquaculture experts at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program’s ‘Back to the Bays’ initiative planted about 130,000 baby clams — and a couple dozen humans — in the waters off Cedar Beach in Southold.

Long Island Marine and Coastal Field Guide: A Trusty Companion on Land and at Sea- The Southampton Press
Long Island Marine and Coastal Field Guide: A Trusty Companion on Land and at Sea- The Southampton Press

The Long Island Marine and Coastal Field Guide was created by Back to the Bays staff Carolyn Munaco and Hazel Wodehouse. Carolyn painted over 250 species for the field guide and Hazel classified each organism and wrote all of the information about each species, as well as detailed descriptions of Long Island's diverse marine habitats.

Full Article

Back to the Bays Plants Scallops; Hopes To Harvest Donations With May 30 Fundraiser - The Southampton Press
Back to the Bays Plants Scallops; Hopes To Harvest Donations With May 30 Fundraiser - The Southampton Press

Back to the Bays plants Scallops to collect donations for our 2nd annual Brew for the Bay, brought to you by the Back to the Bays Team and Kidd Squid Brewing Co. Proceeds from beer sales will directly support the shellfish and habitat restoration work being conducted in the waters off of Sag Harbor through Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program's Back to the Bays Initiative.

Full Article

Oyster shell collection benefits land and sea: Shells become building blocks for new habitats - Shelter Island Reporter
Oyster shell collection benefits land and sea: Shells become building blocks for new habitats - Shelter Island Reporter

Shelter Island has been out front on restoring habitat for oysters. In April 2023, representatives of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program counted a victory when the Town Board approved a $200,000 allocation from Water Quality Improvement money (WQI) to boost shellfish habitat restoration.

From the start, Islander and aquaculture coordinator for Cornell Kate Rossi-Snook has been the Island’s voice calling for restoration of the habitats that contribute to improved water quality.

Community, conservationists establish small oyster reef in Sag Harbor - Newsday
Community, conservationists establish small oyster reef in Sag Harbor - Newsday

Kate-Rossi Snook led a large gathering of volunteers and supports in the deployment of our Sag Harbor Oyster Reef!

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Toward a New Oyster Reef in Sag Harbor - The East Hampton Star
Toward a New Oyster Reef in Sag Harbor - The East Hampton Star

“We have to be proactive, we have to remain proactive,” said Sag Harbor Village Mayor Thomas Gardella at an Aug. 21 event on the beach near John Steinbeck Waterfront Park, hosted by the nonprofit Back to the Bays.

Full Article

Biologists express renewed optimism for Peconic Bay scallops - WSHU Public Radio
Biologists express renewed optimism for Peconic Bay scallops - WSHU Public Radio

After multiple consecutive years of seasonal dieoffs among the bay scallop populations, a small subset expressing strong survivability has been documented. The CCE Marine researchers and hatchery team will be working to assess those genetics and is embarking on a series of spawns using those adults as broodstock.

Full Article

Town funds shellfish restoration: $200,000 comes from water committee’s money - Shelter Island Reporter
Town funds shellfish restoration: $200,000 comes from water committee’s money - Shelter Island Reporter

Patience paid off this month for representatives of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program when the Town Board approved a $200,000 allocation from Water Quality Improvement money (WQI) to boost shellfish habitat restoration.

Full Article

Scientists Scramble to Help Bay Scallops Survive Climate Change - Civil Eats
Scientists Scramble to Help Bay Scallops Survive Climate Change - Civil Eats

Researchers at Stony Brook University and CCE have joined forces and begun to selectively breed Peconic Bay scallops in an effort to help them resist the effects of climate change and restore their populations.

Full Article

New effort by Cornell Cooperative Extension fights for bay scallops’ survival - The Suffolk Times
New effort by Cornell Cooperative Extension fights for bay scallops’ survival - The Suffolk Times

A new project has been launched to ensure the long-term survival of the Peconic Bay scallop by shifting spawning from summer to fall at Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Southold hatchery.

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Greenport Shellabration returns for the 11th year - Northforker
Greenport Shellabration returns for the 11th year - Northforker

Greenport Shellabration is back for its 11th year on Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4 from Noon to 4 p.m. This year, the event is back to the full 1,500 “Shellabrant” capacity.

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Oysters: The Tums of Lake Montauk - The East Hampton Star
Oysters: The Tums of Lake Montauk - The East Hampton Star

East Hampton Town has given its blessing to a second spat-on-shell oyster reef restoration project in Lake Montauk, proposed by the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Back to the Bays program.

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Back to the Bays initiative continues to make a difference in local waters - Northforker
Back to the Bays initiative continues to make a difference in local waters - Northforker

If you’ve ordered the Peconic Gold Oysters Rockefeller from Windamere at Strong’s Marine in Mattituck, you’ve contributed to a good cause with perhaps not even realizing.

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“Bay Scallop Toss” to mark the start of an exciting new project - Town of Southampton News Flash
“Bay Scallop Toss” to mark the start of an exciting new project - Town of Southampton News Flash

Town of Southampton and Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program Partner to Give Bay Scallops a Brighter Future with Kick Off of New CPF Funded Project.

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