How Are 120 Million Clams Farmed on Florida’s Gulf Coast?
Discover how clams are farmed, grown, and harvested along Florida’s Gulf Coast from hatchery to table. In the very first episode, I traveled to Cedar Key, Florida, to document the people and the process behind one of the most important hard clam farming communities in the United States. Cedar Key produces over 90% of Florida’s farmed hard clams, making it a key player in sustainable aquaculture. Through time spent on the water and conversations with local farmers, this film follows the full clam farming process: hatchery, nursery, grow-out, harvest, and explores how clams support coastal ecosystems as natural filter feeders. From farming techniques and environmental benefits to sorting, cleaning, and enjoying clams, this is a grounded look at where seafood comes from and the people who make it possible! 00:00 - Introduction: Inside the World of Clam Farming 0:12 - What is Clam Farming? 1:39 - Hard Clams Explained (Mercenaria Mercenaria) 2:56 - Hatchery, Nursery & Grow-Out Stages 6:36 - A Day on the Water with Clam Farmers 8:58 - Fun Fact! 9:12 - Chat with Captain Bobby! 10:32 - Sustainable Seafood & Aquaculture 11:50 - From Ocean to Plate: How Clams Are Harvested, Cleaned & Cooked 14:22 - Do You Know Your Source? 15:13 - Restoration Project 15:35 - Cedar Key Aquaculture 16:00 - The Cedar Key Farmer Culture 16:45 - Special Thanks Topics covered in this video: Clam farming explained - Hard clams (Mercenaria Mercenaria) - Cedar Key aquaculture - Hatchery, nursery & grow-out stages - Sustainable seafood & aquaculture - Environmental benefits of clams - How clams are harvested, cleaned & cooked 📍 Filmed in Cedar Key, Florida - August 2025 About the Host I’m Serena and through How we __, I’ll be sharing my explorations. Uncovering origins, telling their stories, introducing you to the people and the hands behind your favourite ingredients, cooking alongside you, and inviting you on a journey across cultures and continents. Follow How We__ Instagram: / how_we__ TikTok: / how_we__ Special thanks to Captain Bobby - https://captbobby.com/ Tim Solano & Cedar Key Aquaculture - https://www.cedarkeyclams.com/ for your warm hospitality Cedar Key - https://www.visitflorida.com/places-t... On this journey Producer & Host Serena Hammoud Videographer Enrique Sanchez Editor/Animator Jean Paul Zougheib Graphics Ramzi Ouayda VO Sound Engineer Lana Hammoud Sources: FAO – Bivalve Molluscs https://www.fao.org/4/y5720e/y5720e07... Encyclopaedia Britannica – Bivalve https://www.britannica.com/animal/biv... NOAA Ocean Service – What are bivalves? https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/b... Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution – Can clams help clean waterways? https://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/feature/... Healthline – Shellfish Nutrition https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/... University of Florida IFAS – Biology and Culture of the Hard Clam https://shellfish.ifas.ufl.edu/wp-con... Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission – Hard Clams https://myfwc.com/research/saltwater/... Florida Department of Agriculture – Shellfish Aquaculture https://www.fdacs.gov/Agriculture-Ind... Global Seafood Alliance – Florida Clam Farming Community https://www.globalseafood.org/advocat... Hak ai Magazine – Clamshell Currency https://hakaimagazine.com/article-sho... Visit Florida – Cedar Key https://www.visitflorida.com/places-t... Back to the Bays – Clam Lifecycle https://backtothebays.org/blog/2022/c... Uwajimaya – Manila Clam Guide https://www.uwajimaya.com/uwajipedia/... Florida Shellfish Aquaculture Association http://www.flaclams.com/ Penn Cove Shellfish http://www.penncoveshellfish.com/
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