Gyeonggi-do Releases 3.55 Million Manila Clams, Gamu-rak Clams, and Ragworms into Tidal Flats

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] The Gyeonggi-do Marine Fisheries Resources Research Institute will release 3.55 million juvenile Manila clams, Gamu-rak clams, and ragworms, produced using the institute's own technology, into eight coastal mudflats in the province to enhance fishery resources and restore mudflat environments.

Starting on the 18th with the release of 500,000 juvenile Manila clams into the mudflats of Oido, Siheung City, the institute will sequentially release the three species into the mudflats of Seongamjiseon, Ansan; Jonghyeon-ri; Jungbuheung; Jeburi, Hwaseong; Baekmiri; and Gwon-gwan mudflats, Pyeongtaek, by the 27th. The release quantities by species are 3 million Manila clams, 500,000 Gamu-rak clams, and 50,000 ragworms.

The three species being released this time are high-quality seeds that the institute has artificially induced to spawn since May, managed for about five months in indoor breeding tanks, and have passed disease inspections.

Manila clams and Gamu-rak clams are valuable shellfish preferred for their taste, but their production has recently declined.

Accordingly, the institute began developing production technology in 2019. In particular, Gamu-rak clams have a high initial mortality rate among shellfish, making seed production very difficult.

The institute succeeded in developing production technology for the first time in Korea.

Ragworms are premium fishing bait. They have the ability to purify mudflats, so securing production technology and releasing them this time is expected to help fishermen secure new income resources and restore the mudflat ecosystem.

Lee Sang-woo, director of the Gyeonggi-do Marine Fisheries Resources Research Institute, said, "We will actively conduct research on fishery organisms suitable for the Gyeonggi-do marine environment and fishery resources to create a prosperous Gyeonggi Sea and do our best to increase fishermen's income."