Chungnam, New Ark Shell 'Chiryu Release' Effect... Over 100 Tons Produced This Year

Newly harvested ark shells from Cheonsuman, Chungnam. Provided by Chungnam Province

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The production of razor clams is increasing in the Cheonsuman area of Chungnam Province due to the effect of seed release. This year, production of over 100 tons of razor clams is expected.

According to the Chungnam Fisheries Resources Research Institute on the 25th, the production of razor clams in Chungnam peaked at 1,156 tons in 2003, then sharply declined to 7 tons in 2010 and 1 ton in 2011, and from 2012 onwards, official statistics showed no production for eight consecutive years.

However, in 2020, 25 tons were caught, marking a new production record after nine years, and last year, according to the production performance status by fishing rights released by Hongseong County, razor clam production increased to 73.1 tons. There are also forecasts that this year’s production will exceed 100 tons.

The increase in razor clam production is attributed to improvements in water quality supported by ongoing seed release and bottom environment improvement projects.

Previously, in February 2017, the province released 14,590 seed clams, and in June 2018, 970,000 juvenile clams in the Cheonsuman area.

Additionally, using a self-developed mass artificial hatching technology for razor clams, 300,000 clams were produced and released in 2019, and 500,000 clams in 2022. This was a measure to increase the sharply declining razor clam catch and stabilize the income of local fishermen.

Seed clam release is analyzed to have had a direct impact on the increase in razor clam production.

In fact, the Fisheries Resources Research Institute purchased razor clams caught at five points in Cheonsuman from February to March to verify the release effect, selecting 50 clams per site, totaling 250 clams, and conducted genetic testing. The results confirmed that 28% of razor clams caught in the seed release area had genes matching the released seed clams.

Furthermore, about 8% of razor clams caught 1 km away from the release area and about 4% caught 2.5 km away had matching genes, while no genetically matching razor clams were found beyond 5 km, according to the Fisheries Resources Research Institute.

Based on this, the institute concluded that a significant portion of the released seed clams grew into mature clams and that due to physiological characteristics and ocean currents, they inhabit within approximately 3 km of the release points.

Additionally, environmental surveys of razor clam habitats conducted in 2020 and last year showed that the seawater quality standard in the Hongseong Cheonsuman area, where razor clams are produced, improved from grade 2.75 (2020) to grade 2.5 (2021). This improvement in water quality is understood to have positively influenced the increase in razor clam production, according to the Fisheries Resources Research Institute.

A representative of the Fisheries Resources Research Institute said, “Considering the bycatch rate in the release area, it is estimated that about 10% of razor clams in Cheonsuman are released individuals,” adding, “This proves that razor clam release is effective in creating abundant resources.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.