ABSTRACT
Temporary wet storage of live shellstock in nearshore floats, baskets, or sacks, and onshore in tanks has been practiced worldwide for many years. There are three primary reasons for wet storage. First, shellfish can be harvested from remote areas at convenient times and held live for brief periods at locations close to the point of sale in containers from which they can be easily retrieved. Wet storage also may be used to desand those shellfish species which tend to accumulate sand in their mantles and gills thus making them more palatable. Thirdly, wet storage may be used to increase palatability by increasing salt content of shellfish harvested from low salinity waters. These requirements do not apply to transplant operations where shellfish are moved to new growing areas for conditioning or resource management.
