Asian clams: Mechanical removal

How is the evidence assessed?
  • Effectiveness
    80%
  • Certainty
    78%
  • Harms
    not assessed

Study locations

Key messages

  • A replicated, controlled, before-and after trial in North America found that suction dredging reduced Asian clam densities within the sediment by 96% over two weeks and that the reduction persisted for a year.
  • A replicated, controlled, before-and-after field trial in Ireland found that three types of dredges were equally effective at removing Asian clams, resulting in a biomass reduction ranging from 74% to >95%, and an density reduction ranging from 65% to 95%.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

  1. A replicated, controlled, before-and-after study conducted between 2009 and 2010 at two lake sites in North America (Wittmann et al. 2012) found that suction dredging significantly reduced the abundance of the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea compared to control (non-dredged) sites. After two weeks, density was reduced from around 1,500 to 60 clams/m2 (96% reduction). These effects lasted for at least a year. Diver-assisted suction dredging was applied in five metres water depth at two sites. The equipment had a 4 cm diameter hose, 5.5 Horse Power engine at 3,600 rpm net power output, and 196 cm3 displacement. Each site had three dredged (to 8-13 cm deep) and one un-dredged control plot of 36 m2.

    Study and other actions tested
  2. A replicated, controlled, before-and-after field trial conducted during 2012 in the tidal reaches of the River Barrow, Ireland (Sheehan et al. 2014) found that dredging could reduce the biomass and density of the Asian clam Corbicula fluminea. At a site with high clam biomass and high clam density, dredging achieved a reduction of greater than 95% biomass and 95% clam density. At a site with a low density and low biomass of clams dredging achieved a reduction of biomass by 82% and density by 65%. At a site with high density and low biomass of clams dredging achieved a reduction of biomass by 74% and density by 92%. There was no difference in the effectiveness of the three dredge types used. In each of the three sites, three control and three experimental plots were marked by buoys. In each plot, clam biomass and density was estimated before and after trials using five 0.25m2 quadrats which were hand-searched by divers. The three experimental plots at each site were dredged using eithera box dredge, an electric dredge or a hydraulic dredge. Dredging selectively removed larger clams (18-32 mm length).

    Study and other actions tested
Please cite as:

Aldridge, D., Ockendon, N., Rocha, R., Smith, R.K. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Some Aspects of Control of Freshwater Invasive Species. Pages 555-87 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

All the journals searched for all synopses

Control of Freshwater Invasive Species

This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Control of Freshwater Invasive Species
Control of Freshwater Invasive Species

Control of Freshwater Invasive Species - Published 2017

Control of Freshwater Invasive Species Synopsis

What Works 2021 cover

What Works in Conservation

What Works in Conservation provides expert assessments of the effectiveness of actions, based on summarised evidence, in synopses. Subjects covered so far include amphibians, birds, mammals, forests, peatland and control of freshwater invasive species. More are in progress.

More about What Works in Conservation

Download free PDF or purchase
The Conservation Evidence Journal

The Conservation Evidence Journal

An online, free to publish in, open-access journal publishing results from research and projects that test the effectiveness of conservation actions.

Read the latest volume: Volume 21

Go to the CE Journal

Discover more on our blog

Our blog contains the latest news and updates from the Conservation Evidence team, the Conservation Evidence Journal, and our global partners in evidence-based conservation.


Who uses Conservation Evidence?

Meet some of the evidence champions

Endangered Landscape ProgrammeRed List Champion - Arc Kent Wildlife Trust The Rufford Foundation Save the Frogs - Ghana Mauritian Wildlife Supporting Conservation Leaders
Sustainability Dashboard National Biodiversity Network Frog Life The international journey of Conservation - Oryx Cool Farm Alliance UNEP AWFA Bat Conservation InternationalPeople trust for endangered species Vincet Wildlife Trust