This guide has been prepared to provide the recreational harvester with general information pertaining to the safe harvest of these species in the Maritimes. Included is a brief description of the most common species found along the coast, which Maritimers and visitors have been enjoying safely for centuries. Clams are common to the river mouths, inlets, and beaches of all the Maritime provinces and are found in the sand or mud around midtide level. The clams cannot close their shells tightly because their long neck extends beyond the edge. Most of the soft-shell clam harvest is sold fresh in the shell with some amount sold as fresh and frozen shucked meat and in canned goods.
Hand tools are the only permitted devices for clam harvesting.
Rocky shores along the three provinces' coastlines, bays and river mouths are mussel breeding grounds. Mussel meat is of optimum quality during March, April, May, October and November, when the ocean temperature is cold. Mussels are typically sold fresh in the shell and a license is not required for recreational harvesting. In addition to mussels harvested in the wild, much of the commercial production is now from mussel culturing operations. These operations and growing areas are closely monitored by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.