Around 2-3 PM, the atmosphere at La Gàn wharf was bustling and lively. Trucks were parked ready, and traders had arrived early. At this time, many boats engaged in diving began to dock. Their holds were filled with large sacks of freshly harvested razor clams, brought to the wharf to be sold to traders who would transport them to other provinces and cities for consumption. The boat of Mr. Ngo Van Tuan from Lien Huong commune had just docked, carrying over 2 tons of freshly harvested razor clams. This was the result of the hard work of 9 divers who had been wading in the water since early morning.
According to local divers, razor clams are available year-round, but for the past month, they have been appearing in dense concentrations in the La Gàn and Chí Công sea areas, attracting boats from other regions to harvest them. Fisherman Nguyễn Hùng Cường from Phan Rí Cửa commune said: “Diving boats leave at 3 am and only return to shore in the afternoon, traveling a few nautical miles to reach the clam beds. Each boat has 9-10 divers, and they can collect 150-200 kg per day, with skilled divers sometimes catching over 300 kg. Razor clams are currently priced at 12,000-15,000 VND/kg, and after deducting expenses, fishermen still earn several million dong per day, making everyone happy.”
Compared to previous years, razor clams were only found sporadically, with skilled divers only collecting around 70-80 kg per day. But this year, the razor clams are in unprecedented abundance, motivating fishermen to stay at sea every day. According to the fishermen, after the rainy and stormy season, razor clams reproduce in large numbers, concentrating in the La Gan and Chi Cong sea areas. Taking advantage of the sunny weather and the abundant clam resources, the divers are working at full capacity. Nguyen Van Dat, nearly 40 years old, with decades of experience diving for snails, clams, and mussels in the La Gan sea area, said: “This is the time when diving is profitable, earning 1-2 million VND per day. But this profession is very dangerous, so no one gets rich from diving. Divers need to be healthy because the sea here is 4-5 fathoms deep (each fathom is about 1.5 meters). Diving deep yields more shellfish but also makes you more susceptible to water pressure. When I was young, I could dive for 2 hours at a time, but now I can only do about an hour before I have to come up because the water is very cold.”
In recent days, the Chi Cong clam bed has seen a bustling flow of diving boats, with the small road leading to the clam dock constantly crowded with people transporting seafood. This area is considered the cradle of the diving profession, with hundreds of boats engaged in both offshore and inshore fishing. These boats not only catch razor clams, but also various types of mussels, clams, and snails. However, the most abundant catch in recent days has been razor clams, with the amount arriving at the dock sometimes reaching hundreds of tons daily. Clams, mussels, and snails are purchased by local wholesalers and seafood processing businesses for export, and a portion is consumed in markets and restaurants both within and outside the province.
The abundant harvest of razor clams provides income for local fishermen and creates jobs for many onshore workers. Despite the current harvest season, diving boats are having a good season, offering fishermen hope for a substantial yield in the final months of the year. However, alongside exploitation, fishermen need to work together to protect marine resources, avoiding overfishing, refraining from catching juvenile clams, and absolutely avoiding the use of electric shock. Only in this way can fishermen ensure the long-term and sustainable preservation of this "bounty of the sea."
Source: https://baolamdong.vn/ngu-dan-trung-dam-so-mong-tay-409916.html
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