Clam hunters’ supertool has California worried: ‘It might be too good’

Hydraulic pumps can collect a day's worth of clams in minutes, but experts are concerned about how they affect the ecosystem

Along the beaches of northern California, and the past year has seen a boom in crowds on the hunt for one of the region's favorite edible delights: clams.

But among the buckets and shovels, clam hunters are increasingly coming armed with a powerful new tool: hand-operated, water-squirting pumps that allow them to take more clams, faster than ever before.