Meet the Clam Hatchery Nursery Growout Harvest Learn More
NURSERY
Clam farmers use wellers and raceways to provide protection and food for small clam seed until it is ready to be placed on the lease for growout. The equipment is usually built on land and you will see them all over Cedar Key.
Wellers are open ended cylinders suspended in seawater. The water is circulated through the seed resting on screen at the bottom of the cylinder. The device is described as either an UP weller or a DOWN weller depending on the direction of the water flow.
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SEED IN BOTTOM OF WELLER BASKET |
WELLER WITH BASKETS OF SEED IN PLACE |
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Weller filter |
Weller drain |
Raceways are shallow tanks or trays with saltwater pumped from a nearby source.
The horizontal water flow provides foods and oxygen.
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STACED RACEWAYS |
RACEWAY PLUMBING |
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RACEWAY TRAY |
RACEWAY PLUMBING |







