Growth and maturity of the Pacific razor clam in eastern Cook Inlet, AK

Thesis (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2014In Alaska, the only road-accessible fishery for the Pacific razor clam, Siliqua patula, is located in eastern Cook Inlet, and has been monitored by the Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) since 1964. In recent years, a shift has been observed in size, age, and number of clam cohorts in this region, yet little is known about the early life history of razor clams in this region. This study aimed to provide information on length and age at maturity, growth rates, and spawn timing at two beaches in eastern Cook Inlet, Ninilchik and Clam Gulch, in 2009 and 2010. At Clam Gulch, only 20% of the sampled population was reproductive, compared with 83% at Ninilchik. At Ninilchik, clams were reproductive at a smaller size and younger age (p<0.05) than previously documented. The Ninilchik clams grew faster and had a larger size at age (p