Lubec Shellfish Committee update: El Niño’s impact looms over Maine’s clam flats

MAINE MONITOR • June 15, 2026

Lubec shellfish harvesters planted seed clams in the Lawrence’s Factory, Globe Cove and Klondike flats last week with help from Kyle Pepperman of the Downeast Institute. The new beds will require year-round tending and close monitoring for predators and for biofouling from algae and seaweed. The Lubec Shellfish Committee, which monitors, manages and preserves shellfish harvesting, plans to track conditions on the freshly planted flats and report changes as they occur. A strong El Niño this year is expected to make that work even more critical for the clams’ survival.