Mattapoisett’s Pine Island Pond has an average number of quahogs and oysters, said marine scientist Kevin McGowan, but it could also become an area to cultivate more shellfish for the town.

At the request of Town Administrator Mike Gagne, in October McGowan surveyed the number of shellfish in the pond, located on the east side of Mattapoisett Harbor.

McGowan found an average of 17.4 quahogs per square meter for a total of approximately 675,000. There were 69,000 oysters in the pond as well.

Compared with other studies conducted on the east coast, McGowan said the number of quahogs was on the low end but within range.

“If you were to leave [the pond] alone, you could probably expect 20 per square meter, if it was unfished,” said McGowan.

Of the oyster population, he said, “It seems to be doing well. It would be a tremendous source of free seed for the town.”

Along those lines, McGowan suggested three inexpensive options for cultivating more shellfish.

He said putting clam or oyster shells in the pond would provide a place for juvenile oysters to grow. He also said the town could use the free seed source of quahog at the entrance of the pond, where there is a concentration of the shellfish. The third option would be to purchase clam tents, a simple structure with wire mesh, to encourage soft shell crab larvae to settle.

A more expensive option would be to purchase bigger seed, he said.

Gagne said the Division of Marine Fisheries will conduct a population assessment of Eel Pond as well. He added that there is more money in the shellfish propagation line item for this year to pursue options for increasing shellfish in the harbor.

The ultimate purpose, he said is so “families can get out there and enjoy some quahogging.”