During experiments in the 1980s, researchers at the Washington Department of Fish and Game simply cast geoducks across the sea floor. But fish and crabs ate the tiny clams before they had a chance to dig burrows. Many aquaculturists now plant geoduck seed inside lengths of PVC pipe. One end of the pipe is pounded upright into the sand. Then growers insert several seed clams and cover the exposed end of the pipe with netting to keep out predators.
Growers can remove the pipes after about a year.
However, once an adult geoduck has been pulled from its burrow, it's helpless. As they grow, these stout clams lose the ability to dig into the sand. They've got a texture like a cucumber. ABC News Internet Ventures. Click here for Terms of Use and Privacy Policy applicable to this site.