Clams are widely farmed bivalves with welfare considerations centred on their physiological stress responses and the conditions of their culture and harvest.
Clam welfare is uncertain given their very simple nervous systems — scientific consensus leans toward low sentience compared to vertebrates. However, they do respond to temperature extremes, desiccation and physical damage. Dredge harvest causes significant shell damage and tissue trauma. Hand harvesting or tray-raised clams experience less physical damage. Given the precautionary principle and uncertainty about bivalve experience, minimising unnecessary handling stress is reasonable.