It’s reported that clam farmed in Taixi and Mailiao, Yunlin, Taiwan has dead in large amount. The breeding success rate in more than 60% of the coastal marine ponds is less than 30%. Some ponds almost completely go in vain. Apart from the factors of abnormal weather and water quality, the common reasons causing death, industry insiders also doubt that gene defect caused by inbreeding might be the reason.
Huang Hancheng, a local farmer, stated that he had been working hard in cultivating the clam for more than 8 months. It finally came the harvest season but the clam died all of a sudden. It’s estimated the losses would be up to more than one million NTD.Foodspath Taiwan Clam Sudden Death
Many farmers complained that the breeding success rate was at least 60% or 70% before, however, less than 30% this year. They also mentioned that the similar sudden death occurred about 4 years ago, but it’s the more severe than ever this year. Dumped clams are ubiquitous everywhere.
Council of Agriculture suggest to introduce Southeast Asian species
According to local market, the clam sold in harvest season was at 28-30 NTD/600g in normal years, however, which has been surged from 44 NTD in June to 55-58 NTD now because of decline of market supply. It’s estimated that the price would high likely reach 60 NTD/600g during Mid-Autumn Festival (celebrated on 15th September this year). Buy farmer might still sustain losses due to the low production.
Industry insiders found that the clam would emerge from the water first and then swim to the pond side, and then the sudden death would occur after they open their shell, which was different from dying directly at the bottom of the ponds before. Therefore, apart from the unusual climate and water quality factors, the industry insiders also predicted that long time artificial breeding might causing gene defection in the next generation, which would weaken their resistance and finally cause death. They suggested Taiwan Council of Agriculture introducing Southeast Asian species to diversify the farming and initiate natural disaster relief mechanism.
