Mahogany Quahog (also known as “mahogany clams” or “hardshell clams”) harvests by commercial fishermen, in recent times, peaked in 1986. A drop in the mid-1990s recovered for about ten years, then dipped to about $2.5 million in recent years.
Since the early 1990s, the price per pound has averaged about $.40, ranging from $.30 to $.50. As NOAA’s Fishwatch notes, compared to their larger northern quahog cousins, “Smaller ocean quahogs from Maine waters are marketed as “mahogany clams” and are sold on the half-shell market or for steaming.*
Quahog Landings 1984-2016
Quahog Price per Pound 1984-2016
| YEAR | POUNDS | POUNDS (millions) |
VALUE | VALUE (millions) |
PRICE/LB |
| 1984 | 3,861 | 0.0039 | $364 | $0.00 | $0.09 |
| 1986 | 11,301,100 | 11.3011 | $2,398,465 | $2.40 | $0.21 |
| 1987 | 8,324,732 | 8.3247 | $2,331,780 | $2.33 | $0.28 |
| 1988 | 7,990,888 | 7.9909 | $1,839,641 | $1.84 | $0.23 |
| 1989 | 5,007,142 | 5.0071 | $1,652,571 | $1.65 | $0.33 |
| 1990 | 4,649,413 | 4.6494 | $1,524,103 | $1.52 | $0.33 |
| 1991 | 3,004,765 | 3.0048 | $1,493,320 | $1.49 | $0.50 |
| 1992 | 3,003,245 | 3.0032 | $1,517,591 | $1.52 | $0.51 |
| 1993 | 2,062,499 | 2.0625 | $894,072 | $0.89 | $0.43 |
| 1994 | 1,955,391 | 1.9554 | $907,580 | $0.91 | $0.46 |
| 1995 | 4,036,436 | 4.0364 | $1,690,604 | $1.69 | $0.42 |
| 1996 | 5,139,763 | 5.1398 | $1,931,135 | $1.93 | $0.38 |
| 1997 | 6,221,916 | 6.2219 | $1,977,875 | $1.98 | $0.32 |
| 1998 | 6,003,241 | 6.0032 | $1,820,877 | $1.82 | $0.30 |
| 1999 | 7,821,101 | 7.8211 | $2,611,008 | $2.61 | $0.33 |
| 2000 | 9,967,482 | 9.9675 | $3,309,823 | $3.31 | $0.33 |
| 2001 | 8,932,856 | 8.9329 | $3,499,465 | $3.50 | $0.39 |
| 2002 | 10,619,109 | 10.6191 | $4,747,959 | $4.75 | $0.45 |
| 2003 | 9,663,280 | 9.6633 | $4,911,875 | $4.91 | $0.51 |
| 2004 | 8,356,188 | 8.3562 | $3,842,468 | $3.84 | $0.46 |
| 2005 | 8,260,035 | 8.2600 | $3,606,500 | $3.61 | $0.44 |
| 2006 | 10,012,106 | 10.0121 | $3,919,276 | $3.92 | $0.39 |
| 2007 | 8,415,940 | 8.4159 | $3,226,865 | $3.23 | $0.38 |
| 2008 | 5,523,284 | 5.5233 | $2,195,241 | $2.20 | $0.40 |
| 2009 | 4,591,348 | 4.5913 | $1,820,965 | $1.82 | $0.40 |
| 2010 | 4,659,006 | 4.6590 | $1,787,292 | $1.79 | $0.38 |
| 2011 | 5,324,163 | 5.3244 | $2,116,816 | $2.12 | $0.40 |
| 2012 | 5,760,725 | 5.7607 | $1,736,987 | $1.74 | $.40 |
| 2013 | 4,845,781 | 4.8458 | $1,436,750 | $1.44 | $.30 |
| 2014 | 3,804,172 | 3.8042 | $1,313,622 | $1.31 | $.35 |
| 2015 | 3,433,117 | 3.4331 | $1,310,964 | $1.31 | $.38 |
| 2016 | 3,032,877 | 3.0329 | $1,300,104 | $1.30 | $.43 |
Source:
http://www.maine.gov/dmr/commercial-fishing/landings/documents/mahoganyquahog.table.pdf (accessed January 28, 2018)
*http://www.fishwatch.gov/seafood_profiles/species/clams/species_pages/ocean_quahog_clam.htm