Geoduck Clam Biology
The range of the geoduck clam extends from the shores of Kodiak Island, Alaska (58o N) to Baja
California (34o N) (Harbo,1997); however, harvestable populations do not exist north of SEAK (Hebert pers.
comm.). In Alaska, geoduck clams primarily inhabit soft bottoms from low intertidal zones to depths greater
than 60 meters, although populations have been observed living as deep as 110 meters (Goodwin and
Pease, 1989). Geoduck clams can grow larger than 212 mm (shell length) and 2.35 kg (wet weight)
(Vercessi pers. comm.). Adult geoduck clams are characterized by their large siphon, which they use to
reach the surface of the substrate to access suspended nutrients