Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search

Pacific Region Integrated fisheries management plan summary: Intertidal clams – March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2029

On this page

Forward

The purpose of this Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) summary is to provide a brief overview of the information found in the full IFMP. This document also serves to communicate the basic information on the fishery and its management to DFO staff, legislated co-management boards and other stakeholders. This IFMP provides a common understanding of the basic “rules” for the sustainable management of the fisheries resource. The full IFMP is available on request.

This IFMP summary is not a legally binding instrument which can form the basis of a legal challenge. The IFMP can be modified at any time and does not fetter the Minister's discretionary powers set out in the Fisheries Act. The Minister can, for reasons of conservation or for any other valid reasons, modify any provision of the IFMP in accordance with the powers granted pursuant to the Fisheries Act.

Where DFO is responsible for implementing obligations under land claims agreements, the IFMP will be implemented in a manner consistent with these obligations. In the event that an IFMP is inconsistent with obligations under land claims agreements, the provisions of the land claims agreements will prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.

General overview/introduction - IFMP section 1

The Intertidal Clam Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) is a three year plan covering the period March 1, 2026 to February 28, 2029. The IFMP start date has been changed to March 1 to give harvesters more time to get their licences prior to the start of the fishery.

This plan pertains to four species of intertidal clam: Manila clam (Ruditapes philippinarum), native littleneck clam (Leukoma staminea), butter clam (Saxidomus gigantea), and varnish (savoury) clam (Nutallia obscurata), with Manila clam as the current most important target species. This IFMP does not include the Joint Management Plans with the Council of the Haida Nation for the commercial harvest of razor clams (Siliqua patula) or the Heiltsuk Tribal Council for the commercial harvest of Manila, littleneck and butter clam fisheries in specific areas of the North and Central Coasts. The management of geoduck (Panopea generosa), horse clams (Tresus spp.), and wild Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) are covered in separate plans. Integrated Management of Aquaculture Plans (IMAP) provide an overview of management approaches for shellfish aquaculture activities within the Pacific Region.

Three main species of intertidal clams (Manila, littleneck, butter) comprise the major portion of landings in commercial, recreational and First Nations’ food, social, and ceremonial (FSC) and domestic fisheries. Intertidal clams are harvested by hand digging only during low tide cycles. Although the commercial clam fishery began before the turn of the century, landings were not reliably recorded until 1951. Manila clams were introduced inadvertently in the 1930s along with the introduction of Japanese Pacific oyster seed (Crassostrea gigas). The target species in the commercial fishery was historically butter clams, however since 1971, strong markets and initially higher prices for littleneck and Manila clams have focused the intertidal fishery on these two species, and more recently, almost exclusively on Manila clams.

Type of Fishery and Participants

Although the intertidal clam fishery is small in relation to many other British Columbia fisheries, it plays an important role in coastal communities in BC, serving as a key traditional food source for First Nations and offering essential employment opportunities. It also provides recreational harvesting opportunities for the public.

First Nations

Indigenous harvest generally occurs coast-wide in British Columbia throughout the year via traditional harvest methods, through a communal licence or harvest document, in areas that are open for fishing under the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP). See Appendix 1 First Nations Harvest Plan for further detail.

Recreational

Recreational fishing may occur to provide food for personal use, as a leisure activity, or combination of the two where areas are open for harvest. The recreational fishery includes harvest by local BC residents, residents within Canada, and non-Canadian resident harvesters. A British Columbia Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence is required for the recreational harvest of all species of fish including shellfish. Tidal Waters Fishing Licences can be purchased at many tackle stores or online by using the Fisheries & Oceans Canada website. The number of recreational clam harvesters is unknown. See Appendix 2 Recreational Harvest Plan for further detail.

Commercial

The commercial clam fishery is composed of 142 category Z2 and 568 category Z2ACL (Aboriginal Commercial Licence) licence eligibilities. Category Z2ACL licence eligibilities are held by First Nations who subsequently designate individual members to harvest them. Category Z2 licence eligibility holders are required to renew the commercial clam licences annually. Each category Z2 licence eligibility holder is required to be registered as a commercial fish harvester and have been issued a Fish Harvester’s Registration Card (FRC), to harvest the licence.

As of January 1, 2022, the authority under which a category Z2ACL is issued, was transferred from the Pacific Fishery Regulations to the Aboriginal Communal Fishery Regulations. This change removes the requirement for category Z2ACL licence eligibility holders to pay the licence renewal fee and to obtain a Fish Harvester’s Registration Card. To designate the category Z2ACL licences, Nations are required to identify designated members on a designation list and designated members must then carry identification when fishing that licence. See Commercial Harvest Plan (Appendix 3) for further detail.

Decontamination

The decontamination (formerly depuration) fishery is part of the commercial intertidal clam fishery, conducted under specific licences at registered Depuration Plants or by persons who have a lease or tenure and qualify for relay of clams. Harvests on marginally contaminated beaches requires stock assessment, notification and reporting requirements that are different than the commercial competitive fishery and often occur during times when there are no clam harvest openings. See Appendix 4 Decontamination Harvest Plan for further detail.

Aquaculture

Intertidal clams are also accessed commercially through aquaculture operations. These are managed independent of the wild commercial fishery.

Stock assessment and science - IFMP section 2

Clams have separate sexes and are broadcast spawners, synchronously releasing gametes into the water column, where fertilization occurs. In Manila clams, maturity occurs at 20-25 mm lengths (Holland and Chew 1974), which are reached by approximately 1-2 years of age, (Bourne, 1987a). Minimum legal size (38 mm) is generally attained by 3 years in the southern part of BC, but takes 5-6 years on the central coast of BC (Bourne 1982). Spawning occurs from late spring to early fall in southern BC (Bourne 1987b; Gillespie et al 2012). A minimum temperature of 12°C is required for gonadal development, and a minimum temperature of 14°C is required for spawning (Mann 1979).

Harvestable wild clam stocks are dependent on recruitment that can vary widely from year to year. There is currently no assessment program that measures stock strength on all the beaches that are harvested in the fishery. The stock assessment program identifies biomass on specific beaches in the decontamination fishery and the First Nations Communal Commercial fisheries with a goal of determining maximum sustainable harvest rates. An intertidal clam monitoring program (ICMP) for the south coast of British Columbia is being developed and surveys have been ongoing since 2021. The main conservation tool in this fishery is the minimum size limit. In addition, the commercial fishery is limited to specific opening seasons and limited scheduled openings. Openings are managed based on analysis of annual catches in each area as well as additional factors described in the Commercial Harvest Plan Appendix 3.

Economic profile of the fishery - IFMP section 5

British Columbia’s wild clam fishery made up approximately 2% of all wild shellfish harvest in the Pacific Region in 2023, with an average annual landed value (2024$) of $1.8M between 2016 and 2024. Manila clams have averaged about 88% of wild clam landings by weight and 94% by landed value (2016-2024).

Recreational fishing may occur to provide food for personal use, as a leisure activity, or as a combination of the two. The recreational community includes local residents, multi-species charter operators and lodges, and visiting anglers and boaters. In the 2023/2024 recreational fishing season, 372,087 individuals were licensed to fish in BC’s tidal water recreational fishery. Most (74%) were BC residents, with the remainder being Canadians from outside BC or international residents. Due to COVID-19, no licences were sold to visitors outside of Canada in 2020 (Figure 7). These activities provide a range of social, cultural, and health benefits to the participants as well as contribute directly and indirectly to economic activity.

The tidal water recreational fishery in BC makes a relatively large economic contribution. Typically, BC’s tidal water recreational fishery has been the third largest recreational fishery in Canada in terms of direct expenditures and major purchases. Between 2000 and 2023, annual expenditures in BC tidal water recreational fishing averaged $756 million (2024$). An average of $424 million of this translates into value added to provincial GDP, annually.

Clams are a traditional food staple for coastal First Nations, served at ceremonies and traditional feasts as well as gathered for personal sustenance. First Nations are also interested in fisheries-related economic opportunities. There are over 500 communal commercial clam licence eligibilities (Z2ACL) to provide economic opportunity to First Nations through participation in the commercial fishery.

Access and allocation - IFMP section 8

The Minister can, for reasons of conservation or for any other valid reasons, modify access, allocations, and sharing arrangements outlined in this IFMP in accordance with the powers granted pursuant to the Fisheries Act.

The commercial fishery is limited entry, with seasonal and area closures, and minimum size limits. In addition, a survey-based total allowable catch for butter clams has been instituted on Seal Island in Area 14.

There are several non-commercial access areas throughout the coast. These areas are open for First Nations and recreational harvesting only. Descriptions of these areas are provided in the Commercial Harvest Plan, Appendix 3 and maps are available in Appendix 6.

The recreational daily limit for all clam species combined is 60 per day. Species-specific daily limits are included within the 60 clam aggregate limit; daily limits by species are: 3 geoducks, 6 horse clams, 12 razor clams (except in PFMA 1-5 where the daily limit is 50 razor clams), 20 butter clams, 25 softshell clams, 25 cockles, 60 varnish clams, 60 Manila clams, and/or 60 littleneck clams. Possession limits are two-times the daily limit.

In addition to current North Coast opportunities, DFO, the SFAB, and First Nations are discussing options for an expanded North Coast sampling program that will facilitate, where practical, additional harvest opportunities.

Communal licences issued to First Nations generally provide for a maximum daily quota of 50-100 lbs per day per person. The Chief and Council may authorize additional catch where required. For First Nations with Final Agreements where an allocation of bivalves has not been established (i.e. unallocated), the Nations harvest consistent with annual Fishing Plans.

Shared stewardship arrangements - IFMP section 10

The Department continues to support the development of licence area committees.

Governance process - IFMP section 1

The intertidal clam fishery is governed by the Fisheries Act (R.S., 1985, c. F-14) and regulations made thereunder, including the Fishery (General) Regulations (e.g., conditions of licence), the Pacific Fishery Regulations (e.g., open times), the British Columbia Sport Fishing Regulations, the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations, the Management of Contaminated Fishery Regulations and the Pacific Aquaculture Regulations. Areas and Subareas are described in the Pacific Fishery Management Area Regulations.

Management issues, objectives and measures - IFMP sections 6, 7 and 9

# Management issue Objectives Management measure
1 Stock status: Abundance estimates are not available for individual beaches or clam management areas. Future efforts may be required to explore options for improved assessment frameworks for the fishery. The delivery of the commercial fishery will be assessed by performance measures including the number of days fished, landings compared to previous years, input from representatives at Clam Sectoral Committee meetings, and other DFO program measures and assessments.
2 Economic viability of the commercial clam fishery: These issues include the loss of beach access as a result of the expansion of intertidal aquaculture tenures, treaty settlements, water quality concerns, and increasing recreational use. Work with licence eligibility holders to develop solutions to these issues, explore potential opportunities, and adapt the fishery accordingly. The Department will continue to open commercial fisheries in each area as long as the relative stock strength warrants continued harvests and the fishery is manageable.
3 Clam Licence Modernization (CLM): DFO implemented CLM on January 1, 2022 which involved changing the authority of the Aboriginal Commercial Licence (category Z2ACL) from the Pacific Fishery Regulations to the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations and introducing a licence nomination process for commercial clam (category Z2) licence eligibilities. To address requests and inquiries related to the implementation of Clam Licence Modernization for the Clam Management Areas covered by this IFMP. The Department will continue to review and address licencing inquiries in the commercial fishery. Under current licencing policy there is no mechanism to increase the number of Z2ACLs beyond what was originally allocated. However, redistribution of existing Z2ACL licences could be explored if there is interest. Additional requests can also be considered through the ongoing consultations for the broader West Coast Commercial Fisheries Modernization initiative which intends to address requests to review existing licencing policies.
4 Traceability: DFO ensures traceability of bivalve product through conditions of licence, from harvest to the point of landing at federally registered plants. Ensuring the safety of consumers is a top priority and by enhancing traceability, DFO remains committed to protecting public health, meeting conservation objectives for bivalves, and maintaining international markets. Ensure the safety of all consumers by enhancing traceability. Work on stricter controls on reporting and handling of wild bivalves from harvest to landings. Work with industry for the purpose of standardizing catch information. Continue to review all wild bivalve conditions of licence, and increase/clarify management controls around product movement, i.e., selling of products to buyers/receivers, and implement changes to notification, tagging, and reporting requirements. Continue to use fish slip information for year-end reporting and develop a standardized approach for in-season reporting in the future.
5 Limited information on recreational shellfish harvest, including clams, harvest information. Meet conservation objectives and ensure healthy and productive fisheries and ecosystems. Catch monitoring programs for all recreationally-caught fish are being developed in collaboration with recreational fishery organizations.
6 First Nations’ concerns over the impact of commercial harvest on their ability to harvest for food, social and ceremonial (FSC) purposes. To work with First Nations to ensure their needs for FSC access to clams. The Department is consulting with First Nations throughout coastal BC on a more comprehensive approach to gathering catch data by negotiating agreed-upon protocols outlined in the Fisheries Agreement and/or communal licences.
7 Fishery Monitoring: Monitoring the fishery is difficult due to the vast number of beaches and remote areas that are involved. The goal for Conservation & Protection is to prevent the harvest of contaminated clams except under very strict harvest plans as set out under the authority of the Management of Contaminated Fisheries Regulations and the Food Inspection Act. Patrols of contaminated beaches prior to and during the open fishery are done to prevent contaminated product from entering the market. This is undertaken by C&P Officers by vehicle, foot, vessels, and/or aircraft. 
8 The European green crab (Carcinus maenas) is an introduced species that has been found throughout the West Coast of Vancouver Island and at some locations in the Strait of Georgia. There are concerns for potential impact on clam resources. Meet conservation objectives and ensure healthy and productive fisheries and ecosystems. Management measures have been placed on the intertidal clam fishery to mitigate the spread of green crab and research is ongoing to assess this potential pathway for green crab to enter the Strait of Georgia.

Compliance plan - IFMP section 11

Conservation and Protection (C&P) staff will pursue opportunities to monitor and enforce this fishery, in conjunction with the monitoring and enforcement priorities directed by senior management in the Pacific Region.

Performance review - IFMP section 12

An evaluation of improvements to the fishery monitoring and catch reporting mechanisms for all sectors will be conducted.

Catch and effort data from the fishery will be consolidated and reviewed within the context of examining potential effects on stock structure and status.

The delivery of the commercial fishery will be assessed by performance measures including the number of days fished, landed value compared to previous years, input from representatives at Clam Sectoral Committee meetings and other DFO program measures and assessments.

First Nations holding communal commercial licence eligibilities will be invited to comment on their experience within the commercial clam fishery.

Recommendations for the recreational fishery by representatives of the SFAB will be shared with the Clam Sectoral Committee and any management updates from DFO will be described.

Contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada

For additional information on this IFMP Summary or to request an electronic version of the full IFMP, please contact Brittany Myhal at 250-739-9217 or via email at Brittany.Myhal@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or DFO.PACInvertebrates-InvertebresPAC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Date modified: