On November 9th, the 350-hectare clam farming area managed by the Sand dune management Board was certified to meet ASC standards by the Control Union organization.
The certification ceremony and the signing of the value chain following ASC certification took place on November 15, 2023, at the Culture Center in Tân Thành commune of Gò Công Đông district.
Tiền Giang is the fourth province in the country, after Nam Định, Ninh Bình, and Trà Vinh, to have a unit certified with ASC. The Sand Dune Management Board will manage the exploitation and maximize the brand value of ASC-certified clams. The Tiền Giang Fisheries Sub-Department stated that there are plans to expand more ASC-certified areas.
Clams are one of the four main seafood products in Tiền Giang province. The province has 187 households leasing land from the State, covering a total area of 2,320 hectares. In Gò Công Đông district alone, 182 households use 2,200 hectares of land for clam farming.
Since the fourth quarter of 2022, the clam and seafood industry in Vietnam has faced many challenges due to the impact of global economic downturn, resulting in sluggish market demand, the slump in prices of clams and many seafood products and more stringent requirements of importing countries.
The ASC certification event is a great joy for the fishing community of Tiền Giang province, helping to enhance the value and competitiveness of Vietnamese clam products in the international market.
Lê Văn Sơn, Chairman of People’s Committee of Gò Công Đông district, stated that clam farming used to be very favorable. However, in recent years, due to climate change, clam diseases often occur during summer, causing difficulties for clam farmers.
Currently, farmers no longer stock clams as densely as before, to reduce disease outbreaks. Baby clams released into the farming area are around 1,000 pcs/kg, and after a year of farming, they reach the size of 45-50 pcs/kg before harvested. The yield is about 25-30 tons per hectare, and the farm gate price is around 25,000 VND/kg. Deducting costs such as renting land, caretaking, baby clam nursery… farmers can achieve a profit of over 50%. The ASC certification for clams will serve as a passport to enter demanding markets such as the EU and the US.
VFM
