Tribal Reserve in Maine May Facilitate Clam Resurgence?

In the picturesque Sipayik peninsula of Maine, the Passamaquoddy tribe is making a significant effort to revive a vital part of their 13,000-year-old connection with clams. The Sipayik clam garden, a community-led project, is showing promising signs of success.

Brian Altvater, a tribe member, fondly recalls his childhood days spent digging clams for pocket change. Today, he witnesses a new chapter in the clam digging tradition, one that aims to sustain and nurture the species for future generations.

The causeway between Sipayik and the city of Eastport, which has interrupted tidal flows and caused sediment to build up on the clam flats for nearly a century, has been a significant hurdle. This habitat destruction is now being addressed through the clam garden.

The garden, which spans across 170 plots, currently houses over 1.25 million clams. The nets over the plots stay in place all year long to protect the clams, a practice that has proven effective in maintaining a healthy clam population.

However, challenges persist. The population of adult softshell clams in the waters around Sipayik has declined due to overfishing, development, climate change, and invasive species. One such invasive species is the green crab, which can eat as many as 40 juvenile clams in a single day.

Majik Francis, a 23-year-old tribe member, lost his life in a tragic accident while attempting to harvest clams in a nearby cove in 2015. His loss serves as a poignant reminder of the risks associated with the traditional method of clam digging. Francis hopes the clam gardens will inspire former diggers in the community to pick the practice back up again, but with a renewed focus on safety and sustainability.

The success of the Sipayik clam garden could have far-reaching implications. A healthy clam population in the waters around Sipayik could become a supplementary income source for the tribe's fishers and lobstermen. Archaeological digs have uncovered "middens," or piles of discarded clamshells, at ancient tribal sites, further emphasizing the tribe's historical reliance on clams.

In 2022, the Passamaquoddy Tribe was involved in establishing a community shellfish garden in Sipayik to restore soft-shell clam populations. The launch of this community clam garden saw the introduction of 250,000 juvenile clams. Volunteers monitor both the clams' health and the green crabs' behavior in the garden to ensure its continued success.

As the Sipayik clam garden continues to thrive, Francis looks forward to the first community harvest next summer. His hope is that this initiative will not only revitalize the clam population but also serve as a model for other coastal communities facing similar challenges.