The surf clam, particularly the Atlantic surf clam (*Spisula solidissima*), is a large, burrowing bivalve found along the eastern coast of North America and valued for its sweet, tender meat used in chowders, fried clam strips, and sushi. The United States is the dominant harvester of Atlantic surf clams, with the fishery centered off the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern coasts, especially New Jersey and Massachusetts. In Asia, Japan and China are leading producers of closely related surf clam species, such as the Sakhalin surf clam (*Pseudocardium sachalinense*), which is prized for sushi and sashimi. These countries operate highly regulated and technologically advanced fisheries, using dredges and hydraulic gear to harvest clams from sandy seabeds. The surf clam industry is notable for its sustainable management in the U.S., where quotas and rotational harvesting help maintain healthy stocks, while Asian countries have also implemented measures to manage local species and meet high domestic and export demand.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand | 235 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.