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Didn't Know Clams Were That Popular, But Okay
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One person's good news is another's disaster, as in the news that they've developed a better, more efficient way to harvest clams along the beaches of northern California, using hydraulic pumps that work really well, pulling up in a few minutes what would have taken a full day to dig up the old way. The problem is that so many people are ditching the buckets and shovels and using the pumps, it means that it could endanger the clams (even more than being dug up and eaten already endangered them). There's a limit on clamming, but what's happening is that a) teams of clammers are sucking up all the clams, and b) the smaller clams nobody wants are left on the beach instead of being reburied, which kills the smaller clams. Oh, and c) the clammers using the pumps wade in the shallow water and disturb the eelgrass bed that is important to the marine ecosystem. If you're concerned about the marine environment, maybe the pumps should be in your crosshairs. (The Guardian)
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