Focusing on the Waters off Byeollyang-myeon, Suncheon
Stocking 280,000 Seeds
Partitioned Intermediate Cultivation Method in Tidal Flats
The Jeonnam Institute of Marine and Fisheries Science is systematically managing the cultivation of Garimat clam by stocking 280,000 artificially produced Garimat clam seeds (average size around 5mm) from the Future Fisheries Research Center of its Eastern Branch into the waters off Byeollyang-myeon, Suncheon, in an effort to maintain the reputation of this key export item.
This year, the institute has focused its research on increasing the size of the seeds used for stocking to help them adapt more stably to the natural environment, thereby improving their initial survival rate and maximizing the effectiveness of cultivation management.
Additionally, the institute has introduced a partitioned intermediate cultivation method in tidal flats to restrict movement and prevent predation, with plans to precisely analyze the future effectiveness of this management approach and use the results as scientific evidence.
It is also expected to contribute to the establishment of standards such as the revision of standardized release criteria and guidelines for Garimat clam.
Garimat clams produced in Suncheon Bay are recognized nationwide for their excellent taste and marketability, and are exported to Japan as a key regional product. However, production has plummeted from 3,577 tons in the 1990s to just 8 tons recently, shaking the income base of local fishers.
In response, the Jeonnam Institute of Marine and Fisheries Science has been working to restore Garimat clam resources by continuously releasing a total of 3.42 million artificial seeds from 2021 to last year.
Kim Chungnam, Director of the Jeonnam Institute of Marine and Fisheries Science, stated, "We will systematically analyze the survival and growth of artificial Garimat clam seeds and their contribution to fishing grounds, develop resource recovery strategies suitable for the tidal flats of Suncheon Bay, and strive to improve the income of local fishers and create a healthy tidal flat ecosystem."
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