Developing the strengths of coastal seafood farming

Clam harvesting in Go Cong sea.

Go Cong sea with its mangrove ecosystem is an ideal environment for bivalve molluscs to thrive. According to surveys and assessments by the authorities, the natural breeding sources in the alluvial plains of Go Cong sea are mainly clams and cockles, of which the two areas where clams and cockles are concentrated are Ong Mao and Ong Lieu islets (Go Cong Dong district) and Ngang islets (Tan Phu Dong district). It is known that Go Cong clams and cockles are considered by traders to be the best breeds in the country, and are favored by consumers in and outside the province.

The current clam farming area of Tien Giang province is 2,200 hectares, supplying the export market with about 20,000 tons of commercial clam meat each year. According to records in the specialized clam farming area in Tan Thanh sea, Tan Thanh commune, Go Cong Dong district, Tien Giang province, traders buy commercial clams at a price of 20,000-25,000 VND/kg, depending on the harvest size (about 50-60 clams/kg). With a productivity of 15 tons/ha of water surface this year, clam farmers in Tan Thanh sea are excited because the income from 1 hectare of clam farming is from 300-400 million VND.

The clam farming industry in Go Cong coastal area in Tien Giang province has developed for many years, contributing to solving jobs and income for people in coastal areas as well as creating a supply of goods for consumption and export processing. Each year, the clam farming area in Go Cong coastal area creates jobs for about 100,000 people. During the harvest season, the clam farming area in Go Cong coastal area attracts 3,000-3,500 workers with an average income of 50,000-60,000 VND/hour of clam raking.

Mr. Le Van Son, Chairman of the People's Committee of Go Cong Dong district, Tien Giang province, said: In order to improve the value chain of commercial clams towards sustainable development, Tien Giang province, the International Cooperation Center for Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries (ICAFIS), OXFAM and the People's Committee of Go Cong Dong district have built a clam exploitation management area in Go Cong, according to the standards of the Marine Stewardship Council MSC. On November 15, 2023, Go Cong Dong clams were awarded the ASC (Aquaculture Stewardship Council) standard certificate. This is considered a passport to bring Vietnamese clams to many demanding markets such as Europe, Japan, etc. With the ASC certification, the clam farming area of Go Cong Dong district, Tien Giang becomes the 4th clam farming area in Vietnam and also the 4th clam farming area in the world to receive this certification. Currently, this clam farming area has an area of 350 hectares, managed and exploited by the Go Cong Dong District Sandbar Management Board.

In Tan Phu Dong district, Mr. Tran Ngoc Chi (Hai Tri), Director of Phu Tan Fisheries Cooperative, shared: Currently, the Cooperative is managing 500 hectares of alluvial land in the Ngang sandbank area with 1,050 members who are local people participating. According to statistics, in the first phase of the first 4 months of 2025, Phu Tan Fisheries Cooperative exploited more than 4.2 tons of blood cockles with prices ranging from 1.3 to 1.7 million VND/kg.

In addition to developing clam and cockle farming areas, Tan Phu Dong and Go Cong Dong districts of Tien Giang province also focus on expanding shrimp farming areas. According to statistics, the shrimp farming area in coastal areas of Tien Giang province is about 4,895 hectares; of which, the intensive farming area is 3,20 hectares, with an estimated output of about 19,850 tons/year, mainly concentrated in Tan Phu Dong and Go Cong Dong districts. The output from this model is about 2,000 tons/year (average yield of 40-50 tons/ha), accounting for about 10% of the province's shrimp output.

Mr. Le Thanh Dang, Vice Chairman of Tan Phu Dong District People's Committee, said: With the support of the province, the coastal area of Tan Phu Dong district has been invested in and developed according to the Nam Go Cong Project. From here, many irrigation works serving aquaculture and seafood exploitation have been continuously built, contributing to the economic restructuring associated with improving people's lives. Since then, the shrimp farming area has been increasingly expanded, combined with the exploitation of seafood resources from sandbanks, bringing significant income to many households and the local economy. The shrimp farming area in Tan Phu Dong district currently reaches more than 7,500 hectares; the output from aquaculture is over 30,000 tons, with production models becoming more and more diverse and abundant, mainly shrimp raised in extensive and industrial forms.

In addition to traditional shrimp farming models, shrimp farming households in Tan Phu Dong and Go Cong Dong districts have begun to apply new technical advances to brackish water shrimp farming such as the 2-phase shrimp farming model, initially with an area of 30 hectares/14 households, with an average yield of 40-70 tons/ha (normal farming from 15-20 tons/ha). A typical example is Mr. Tran Quang Thanh's household, residing in Xom Ray hamlet, Kieng Phuoc commune, Go Cong Dong district, converting 2 hectares of saline land to shrimp farming. Thanks to mastering the process, choosing good, disease-free breeds, and summarizing practical experience through each farming season..., Mr. Thanh has a bumper crop every season. On average, each year, he achieves a farming output of nearly 10 tons of commercial shrimp, after deducting expenses, he still makes a profit of 300-400 million VND.

Mr. Doan Van Phuong, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Tien Giang province, said: The locality continues to develop aquaculture models applying new, environmentally friendly technologies, adapting to climate change, ecological farming models; models applying good aquaculture practice certification standards (GAP), international standards on sustainable aquaculture (ASC); applying mixed farming models, 2 or 3-phase farming; circulating farming processes;... to increase value and develop sustainably.

To date, the province has 422,474 hectares of aquaculture area certified by VietGAP, Global GAP, ASC, and more than 320 hectares of shrimp farming applying 2-3 phase farming processes, accounting for 14.5% of the total intensive shrimp farming area and about 15% of the province's shrimp farming output. To maintain and develop certified farming areas, local specialized agencies regularly support facilities to ensure criteria for record keeping and check the implementation of diary recording during the production process.

In addition, Tien Giang province has been implementing preferential policies to attract investors to develop aquaculture and seafood in the province. Enterprises have invested in the production and processing of aquatic feed and seafood for export, achieving good results. Currently, seafood processing and export enterprises in the province are developing quite strongly. This is also expected to help the aquaculture and seafood industry in Tien Giang province make a rapid breakthrough in the near future.

Article and photos: HUU CHI

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/phat-trien-the-manh-nuoi-hai-san-ven-bien-a186319.html