[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun] The Gyeonggi Province Marine and Fisheries Resources Research Institute announced on the 17th that it released 800,000 artificially bred Manila clam seedlings (0.5cm shell length) at three coastal locations in the Ansan and Hwaseong tidal flats from the 16th over two days to restore Manila clam resources in the Gyeonggi Bay area.
The Manila clam seeds released this time were high-quality seedlings collected from superior parent clams inhabiting Gyeonggi Bay in May, artificially induced to spawn, and raised in indoor tanks through larval and seedling stages for approximately five months with disease testing conducted. After two years of release, they will grow into commercial-size clams (3cm or larger).
Gyeonggi Province's Manila clam production was 6,000 tons in 2000, but this year's production has significantly decreased to around 1,000 tons. In response, the province launched an artificial shellfish seed production technology development project for Gyeonggi tidal flats last year to increase shellfish production in the region. As a result, this year marks the first release of organisms since the opening of the Marine Research Institute, with the release of 800,000 Manila clam seedlings.
Kang Byeong-eon, director of the Gyeonggi Province Marine and Fisheries Resources Research Institute, said, "We hope to increase production of Manila clams and contribute to improving fishing community income by researching and producing various shellfish such as short-necked clams and cockles in addition to Manila clams." He added, "We will also conduct additional research on crustaceans, seaweed, and cuttlefish in the future."
Meanwhile, Manila clams are widely produced in the West Sea coastal area and are a representative shellfish enjoyed by Koreans. They are particularly known to contain large amounts of taurine, an amino acid, and are effective in relieving hangovers and detoxifying the liver.