Quynh Luu: Mass deaths of clams, damage of over 24 billion VND

(Baonghean) - The entire Quynh Luu district currently has 104.7 hectares of commercial clams concentrated in coastal communes such as Quynh Tho, Son Hai, Quynh Thuan... According to estimates from functional agencies, by the end of March 25, about 50 - 70% of the commercial clam farming area of ​​people in the district had died with nearly 2,000 tons of clams ready to be harvested, causing damage of over 24 billion VND.

The entire Son Hai commune has 17 households raising commercial clams with a total area of ​​50.7 hectares, with an average output of 30 - 33 tons/hectare. However, for nearly a month now, clam farmers here are facing the situation of "empty-handed" when clams that are about to be harvested suddenly die en masse for unknown reasons. Mr. Thai Ba Khang, one of the largest clam farmers in Son Hai commune, said that his family has about 20 hectares of commercial clam farming area in the sea of ​​​​Son Hai and Quynh Tho communes. These days, he and dozens of workers are cleaning up and removing all dead clams from the farming area. The dead clams cover a large area, emitting a foul smell. In this farming season, Mr. Khang's family lost 60-70% of the clam area that was in the harvest period. With the current clam price on the market at 11-12 thousand VND/kg, it is estimated that his family will lose 3-4 billion VND.

Veterinary agencies and officials of Quynh Luu district inspect the situation of dead clams in Son Hai commune (Quynh Luu).

Mr. Tran Ngoc Hoang in Quynh Thuan commune also suffered heavy losses. His family has 40 hectares of clam breeding and commercial clam farming in 3 alluvial areas in Quynh Tho, Son Hai and Quynh Thuan communes; currently more than 70% of the clam farming area has died en masse. “My family has many years of experience in clam farming, but never before have clams died as much as this year. This clam crop, I invested nearly 4 billion VND to buy clam seeds to raise. Within just 5 days, from March 1 to 5, 2015, clams died en masse with a total weight of 600 - 800 tons, causing damage of 5 - 6 billion VND” - Mr. Hoang said. After the clams died, Mr. Hoang’s family had to hire dozens of local workers to clean up and remove all the dead clams from the farming area with a salary of 150,000 VND/day. With nearly 30% of the clam area remaining healthy, he focused on checking, monitoring and harvesting in time, hoping to salvage as much money as possible.

Clams died of unknown causes

In Quynh Tho commune, there are 30 households raising commercial clams with over 21 hectares. Mr. Nguyen Van Phu's household in Tho Thang hamlet was the first household in the commune to be found dead with a 60% loss in area. After that, many surrounding clam farming households also fell into a similar situation. Mr. Nguyen Van Luc, Vice Chairman of Quynh Tho Commune People's Committee, said: "Currently, the Commune People's Committee is directing people to focus on overcoming the consequences and clearing the dead clams out of the farming area. The remaining clam areas are being monitored and continued to be farmed. The Commune People's Committee assigned the villages and hamlets to compile a list of damages to propose to superiors to have policies to support clam farmers who suffered losses"...

Clams died of unknown causes

Discussing the above issue, Mr. Nguyen Xuan Dinh, Head of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quynh Luu district, said: After receiving information about the death of commercial clams in some coastal communes, the People's Committee of the district and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Quynh Luu district went to the clam-raising households to inspect and report to relevant provincial agencies. On March 21, the Department of Animal Health, the Provincial Veterinary Department and representatives of Quynh Luu district continued to visit the clam-raising households that died to collect soil, water and clam shell samples for testing; currently, the locality and clam farmers are waiting for the authorities to assess and announce the cause of the mass clam deaths.

Viet Hung