The Squaxin Island Tribe is exploring whether local populations of native cockles—an important food source for tribal members—can be supplemented by those that grow as a byproduct in geoduck farming tubes.
Conversation about the project started in 2024, after a large die-off of the bivalve mollusks were observed on Squaxin Island and throughout the Salish Sea.
“Cockles are an important first food for tribes,” said Rana Brown, shellfish biologist for the tribe. “We thought, ‘Is there anything we could to do help sustain the population?’”
Geoduck farmers grow their clams in 6-inch PVC pipes, which protect them from predators. Farmers often find cockles in the pipes as well, possibly protecting themselves.
Brown reached out to local geoduck farmers and received enthusiastic support from Chelsea Sea Farms to collect cockles from their tidelands and transplant them to areas around Squaxin Island where populations could use a boost. Additional juvenile cockles were supplied by tribally owned Salish Seafood. Several thousand have been transplanted so far.
Brown found additional support from students at Pioneer Middle School in Shelton, who helped collect, transport and gather data about the cockles. Several students also took part in transplanting the cockles.
“I’m excited the students get the chance to participate in the study,” said Tim Smith, who teaches project-based science classes.
The collaboration will serve many goals, from giving students real scientific experience to potentially finding a way to supplement a crucial shellfish population. The tribe plans to continue the study and work with students to monitor the survivability of transplanted cockles. To better understand the physiological parameters that drive cockle survival in southern Puget Sound, future study efforts could include diversifying transplant locations and substrate type, conducting cockle settlement experiments to determine what makes geoduck tubes an attractive location, and studying the effects of thermal stress.
“A long-term goal would be to enhance the population for tribal member usage, so they have an accessible source for the first food,” Brown said.
Top: A bag of cockles during transplantation earlier this year. Above: Pioneer Middle School student Mary Lewis measures a cockle in a lab in June—work that will laterprovide valuable data to see how the shellfish fared after transplantation. Photo provided by the Squaxin Island Tribe.
