Hard Clams (Mercenaria Mercenaria)

Del. Code tit. 7, ch. 24

in effect

Del. Code tit. 7, § 2401 Minimum size.

It shall be unlawful for any person to possess hard clams taken from the waters under the jurisdiction of the State which measure less than 1 1 / 2 inches. Any commercial measure of hard clams shall not contain more than 5% clams that are less than 1 1 / 2 inches.

Del. Code tit. 7, § 2402 Commercial clam tong/rake license.

It shall be unlawful for any person to tong or to rake clams for commercial purposes in this State unless said person has applied for and secured from the Department and has in his or her possession a valid clam tong/rake license. The fee for a commercial clam tong/rake license shall be $57.50 for residents and $575 for nonresidents. A commercial clam tong/rake license will entitle the holder to harvest a maximum number set by Department regulations.

Del. Code tit. 7, § 2403 Area permitted; method of taking under clam tong/rake license.

(a) It shall be unlawful to take clams from any leased shellfish grounds or contaminated area, as determined by the Department, in Delaware Bay, Indian River and Bay, Rehoboth Bay, Little and Big Assawoman Bays and the tributaries thereof, except a person authorized in writing by the holder of a lease site may take clams from said leased shellfish grounds. Such written authorization shall be at all times on the person of a least 1 member of any crew while working on leased shellfish grounds. (b) It shall be unlawful to take or attempt to take clams under a clam tong/rake license with any device from a vessel powered by sail or mechanical means.

Del. Code tit. 7, § 2404 Commercial dredge clam license.

It shall be unlawful for any person to dredge for hard clams in this State unless said person has applied for, secured from the Department and has in his or her possession a valid clam dredger’s license. The fee for a resident clam dredger’s license shall be $57.50. The fee for a nonresident clam dredger’s license shall be $575.

Del. Code tit. 7, § 2405 Commercial dredge clam license — Area permitted; method of taking under commercial dredge clam license.

(a) It shall be unlawful to dredge for hard clams with a commercial dredge clam license on leased shellfish grounds, except that a person may dredge hard clams from his or her own leased shellfish grounds as long as those grounds are not within Delaware’s Inland Bays. (b) It shall be unlawful to dredge hard clams in any waters designated as contaminated by the Department. (c) It shall be unlawful for any person to use any hydraulic dredge or mechanical device which employs a vacuum or suction method for the taking or catching or harvesting of clams from any of the waters under the jurisdiction of this State without the prior written consent of the Department.

Del. Code tit. 7, § 2406 Seasons; limits.

Except in the case of clams reared on shellfish aquaculture lease sites on Delaware’s Inland Bays, the Department will establish by regulation the seasons for the taking of clams and/or limit the number of clams which may be harvested commercially by any 1 licensee. If, in its discretion, the Department determines from biological evidence that emergency restrictions are necessary to protect clams or other shellfish resources of the State, they may do so with advance notice as it deems necessary.

Del. Code tit. 7, § 2407 Unloading locations.

It shall be unlawful for any person to unload hard clams taken from the waters or shellfish grounds within the jurisdiction of the State at any port or unloading facilities located outside the geographic boundaries of the State.

Del. Code tit. 7, § 2408 Noncommercial clamming permit.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to harvest, in any 1 day, hard clams for noncommercial purposes in excess of the daily recreational clam limit unless said person has applied for and received from the Department, and has in his or her possession, a valid noncommercial clamming permit. The fee for a resident noncommercial clam permit will be $5.75. The fee for a nonresident noncommercial clamming permit will be $57.50. (b) The Department will establish, by regulation, the seasons for taking clams and/or limit the number of clams that may be harvested in any 1 day for noncommercial clamming permit holders.

Del. Code tit. 7, § 2409 Recreational clamming.

The Department will establish, by regulation, the seasons for the taking of clams and/or limit the number of clams which may be taken for recreational purposes.

Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title7/c024/index.htmlFetched: 6/28/2026