Taiwan clam (scientific name: Meretrix taiwanica), also known as ark shell, powder chord, is a kind of clam in the genus Meretrix. It is mainly distributed in the western coast of Taiwan and the coast from southern China to northern Vietnam. This species is native to Taiwan and the annual production of this species is more than 40,000 tons.
Discovery Process
In 2017, Chinese scientists discovered that the Chinese clam (M. petechialis) has genetically isolated north and south branches, with a distributional boundary in the Fujian area
In 2019, Taiwan's fishermen reported a year-on-year decline in clam catches from the Danshui River, with occasional violent deaths. Sheng-Dai Hsiao and Shi-Chang Chuang, researchers from the Aquatic Products Laboratory of the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, further initiated the investigation of clam habitats and restoration work. In the course of the investigation, molecular biotechnological genetic characterization[3] revealed that the clam cultured in Taiwan is not the previously recognized M. lusoria, but a separate proto-species. The new species is the same population as the previously discovered southern branch.
The discovery was officially published in Molluscan Research in March 2023, and the new species was named M. taiwanica.
文蛤
The clam is a bivalve mollusc belonging to the clam family. Clams are an important economic shellfish and are cultured all over the world. Clam farming is generally divided into two ways: one is beach farming and the other is pond farming.
Mudflat aquaculture is a traditional method of aquaculture, in which ditches are dug in intertidal mudflats and clam fry are placed into the ditches, where the clams grow by sucking food from the mud. The advantage of beach culture is low cost, but the disadvantage is low yield.
Pond culture is a relatively new type of culture, in which seawater is injected into the pond and the clam fry are placed into the pond, where the clams grow by sucking food from the pond water. The advantage of pond culture is high yield, but the disadvantage is high cost.
Clam Farming
1. Water quality: Clams have high requirements for water quality, which must be clear and free of pollution.
2. Temperature: The suitable temperature for growing clams is 20-30℃.
3. Food: Clams are filter feeders and need to eat large quantities of plankton.
4. Disease control: Clams are susceptible to diseases and farmers need to pay attention to disease control.
Clam aquaculture is an important industry and is of great significance to the development of the fisheries industry. Clam farming can provide fishermen with income and consumers with safe and healthy seafood.
The difference between wild clams and cultured clams
- Environment: Wild clams grow in a natural environment and are affected by a variety of factors, including water quality, temperature, and food. Cultivated clams are grown in artificial ponds, where water quality, temperature, food, etc. are controlled by the farmers.
- Meat quality: The meat of wild clams is generally fresher and more flexible than that of cultured clams. This is because wild clams can move freely in their natural environment and eat a wide variety of food, while cultured clams can only eat a limited amount of food in artificial breeding ponds.
- Price: Wild clams are generally more expensive than farmed clams. This is due to the fact that wild clams have a lower yield and are more expensive to harvest.
In general, wild clams and cultured clams have their own advantages and disadvantages. Wild clams are more flavorful and more expensive, but they are less abundant and more expensive to catch. Cultivated clams are also more flavorful and less expensive, but their meat quality is not as good as that of wild clams.
Factors affecting the yield of wild clams
- Water Quality: Clams have very high water quality requirements and need to live in clear, unpolluted seawater. If the water is polluted, the clams will grow slowly or even die.
- Temperature: The ideal temperature for growing clams is 20-30℃. If the temperature is too high or too low, clams will grow slowly.
- Food: Clams are filter feeders and need to eat a lot of plankton. If there is not enough food, the clams will grow slowly.
- Diseases: Clams are susceptible to diseases such as clam red tide and clam white spot disease. Without proper disease control, clams will die on a large scale.
- Artificial fishing: Overfishing will lead to a decrease in the production of wild clams.
Protecting Wild Clam Resources
- Enhance the protection of water quality and reduce pollution.
- Reasonable control of fishing effort to avoid overfishing.
- Promote captive breeding to increase the supply of clams.
- Raise awareness of the need to protect wild clam resources.