Manila clams are widely farmed in intertidal and subtidal zones, with welfare considerations around predation management, harvest methods, and the ongoing question of bivalve sentience.
As with other bivalves, the welfare status of Manila clams is scientifically uncertain. Current evidence suggests they are unlikely to experience pain in the conscious sense but the precautionary principle suggests minimizing unnecessary harm. Hydraulic dredge harvesting causes mechanical damage to clam tissue and mortality in damaged individuals. Air exposure during harvesting and transport causes physiological stress that reduces post-harvest survival. Predator management through netting significantly reduces mortality of farmed clams. The environmental impact of clam farming, when well-managed, is relatively low, and clams represent one of the lower-welfare-risk animal protein sources available.