The Venice lagoon is the main Manila clam (Venerupis philippinarum)production site in Europe. Following the unsustainable exploitation of this site(free-access fishery) local authorities have been striving to regulate fishing activitiesand most clams are produced using mollusc culture techniques based on wild spat harvestingand on its seeding in appropriate, designated culture areas. Therefore, the quality andabundance of wild clam stocks are critical factors that could limit the full developmentof this activity. The present study aims at assessing Manila clam stocks (spat, adults persquare meter) using ordinary kriging, in an area of the Venice lagoon located near thePorto Marghera industrial zone. Previous studies have identified this area as one of themost important natural clam settlement sites in the Venice lagoon. The study area wasapproximately 1085 ha; 46 sampling stations were examined. Stock assessment (animals weregrouped by size and age group), biomass and correlation with sediment texture wereevaluated. The results obtained and comparisons with studies from the literature enabledan estimation of clam recruitment potential and an analysis of the conservation status ofclam stocks. Thereafter, in view of a full reclamation and an ecological restoration ofthe study area, different measures are proposed for the sustainable use of this area thatinclude the establishment of a biological protection area and a shared and rationalmanagement of the nursery area; these measures could potentially increase thesustainability of clam culture in the Venice lagoon.