Tien Giang: Unlock the potential of marine aquaculture with new technologies
To boost successful aquaculture, the Tien Giang authorities emphasizes training, workshops, technology transfer, and the development of effective farming models.
The 32 km coastline of Go Cong in Tien Giang Province, where three major river mouths—Soai Rap (Vam Lang area, Go Cong Dong District), Tieu River, and Dai River (Tien River)—flow into the East Sea, creates a favorable environment for marine life. The mangrove ecosystem supports the growth of bivalve mollusks like clams and blood cockles. According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tien Giang Province, the natural seed sources in the Go Cong coastal area mainly consist of clams and cockles, with an average density of 15-20 per dm², reaching up to 100-150 per dm² in some areas.
The Ong Mao and Ong Lieu islets (Go Cong Dong District) and Ngang Islet (Tan Phu Dong District) are key breeding grounds for blood cockles. Go Cong blood cockles are highly valued by traders for their 80% survival rate and superior meat quality.
According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Tien Giang Province, clam farming remained stable in the first 10 months of 2024, covering approximately 2,300 hectares, primarily in the coastal communes of Go Cong Dong and Tan Phu Dong districts. The harvested output reached around 2,540 tons.
In Go Cong Dong district, clam farming spans 2,200 hectares, mainly in Tan Thanh commune, with an average annual harvest of 20,000 tons. Go Cong clams are known for their high quality and are popular both locally and beyond the province.
To increase the value of commercial clams, Tien Giang Province launched a scientific and technological project in 2011 titled “Establishing a Clam Management Zone in Go Cong to Meet Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) Standards.” By August 2023, the clam farming area in Go Cong Dong District was evaluated by the global certification body Control Union and certified to meet the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) standards in November 2023.
This clam farming area spans 350 hectares and is managed by the Go Cong Dong District Sandbars Management Board. It is the fourth such area in Vietnam and the world to receive ASC certification, supporting the sustainable development of clam farming in Tien Giang Province, especially in Go Cong Dong District, and generating significant economic value.
Tran Ngoc Chí, Director of Phu Tan Aquaculture Cooperative, stated that the cooperative oversees 500 hectares in the Ngang Islet area (Tan Phu Dong District) and has 1,050 local members engaged in blood clam farming. In the first 10 months of 2024, it harvested over 7.2 tons of blood clam seeds, with prices ranging from 1.3 million VND/kg to 1.7 million VND/kg.
In addition to developing areas for clam and blood cockle farming, the districts of Tan Phu Dong and Go Cong Dong in Tien Giang Province are also expanding shrimp farming. Bui Thai Son, Secretary of the District Party Committee and Chairman of the Tan Phu Dong District People’s Committee, stated that Tan Phu Dong’s coastal area has been developed under the Nam Go Cong Project. Ongoing construction of irrigation works to support aquatic and marine farming has contributed to the region’s economic transformation. In October 2024, Tan Phu Dong District allocated 7,560 hectares for shrimp and blood cockle farming, yielding a total harvest of 44,972 tons.
Shrimp farmers in Tan Phu Dong and Go Cong Dong districts are incorporating new techniques in marine shrimp farming alongside traditional models, such as the two-stage farming method. This approach was initially applied on 30 hectares across 14 households, yielding an average of 40-70 tons per hectare, compared to the usual 15-20 tons per hectare. A prime example is Tran Quang Thanh’s farm in Xom Ray hamlet, Kieng Phuoc commune, Go Cong Dong district, where he converted 2 hectares of saline land into shrimp farming, producing nearly 10 tons on average. After costs, he earned a profit of 300-400 million VND.
Le Hong Tam, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Go Cong Dong District, Tien Giang Province, shared that the district has developed two models: one for shrimp farming with probiotics and bottom aeration, and another for two-stage shrimp farming using high-tech applications and consumption linkages.
VFM
