Home / Export / Seafood Quahaugs The name ‘clam’ covers a wide variety of bivalve molluscs found along Canada’s Atlantic coast. Quahaugs (Mercenaria mercenaria) are found from the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence south to the Gulf of Mexico. History The quahaug industry is composed of two major components: commercial and recreational. Quahaugs are traditionally fished in Prince Edward Island at low tide by hand. In areas where beds are covered by several feet of water, either tongs or long- handled rakes are used from small boats. All fishing activity is regulated by a minimum legal size and the recreational fishing is also restricted to a personal daily bag limit and season. Preparation/Consumption Quahaugs are enjoyed mostly steamed in the shell. They can also be added to chowders and stews or enjoyed fried. Industry Molluscs Harvest Season May, June, July, August, September, October, November Companies Atlantic Shellfish Products Inc.Captain Cooke’s Seafood Inc.Burleigh Brothers Seafood Ltd.Carr’s ShellfishHoward’s Cove Shellfish Ltd.Prince Edward Aqua Farms Inc.L & C Fisheries Ltd.Five Star Shellfish Inc. Scientific Name Mercenaria mercenaria Related Seafood Products Soft Shell Clams Molluscs Soft shell clams (Mya arenaria) are found in protected coastal embayments from Labrador to North Carolina. Sof... Learn More Scallops Molluscs The sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus), also called the giant scallop, is the most commercial species of m... Learn More Oysters Molluscs Prince Edward Island oysters (Crassostrea virginica) freshly shucked and served on the half shell, are a delic... Learn More
