Top Butter Clam Fishing Countries

The butter clam (Saxidomus gigantea) is a large, edible bivalve native to the Pacific coast of North America, prized for its sweet, tender flesh and commonly found buried in sandy or muddy intertidal zones. The commercial and recreational harvesting of butter clams is concentrated primarily in the United States and Canada, especially along the coasts of Alaska, British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. These countries have well-established clam fisheries, with butter clams being a valued component of local seafood markets and Indigenous diets. Harvesting is typically done by hand digging during low tides, both for commercial sale and personal consumption. While the United States and Canada dominate butter clam production, smaller-scale harvesting also occurs in Russia, particularly along the Sea of Okhotsk. Sustainable management practices and periodic closures are enforced in these regions to prevent overharvesting and to monitor for biotoxins such as those causing paralytic shellfish poisoning, ensuring the long-term viability of butter clam populations and the industry.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.