At a time when most seafood products exports have been negatively affected by economic recession Vietnam Clam exports has risen 48 percent in 2009. Region-wise clam fishery concentrates in provinces of Nam Dinh and Thai Binh in the North, and Ben Tre and Tien Giang in the South. The province of Ben Tre is reported to have a large water surface area potential for bivalve mollusks farming, reaching 15,000ha, of which 4,270ha have been used for cultivating clam, producing 17,000MT of market-sized clam by 2009.
Ben Tre clam fishery even received MSC certificate in 2009 becoming the first fishery in Southeast Asia to meet the organization’s sustainability and management standards. Meanwhile the clam farming area in the Northern province of Nam Dinh totaled around 1,300ha and the annual production is estimated at 15,000-17,000MT. While clam products processed in Southern provinces, especially Ben Tre and Tien Giang, are exported to the U.S., EU and other markets around the world.
Viet Nam clam products are mainly exported to China, Japan and some EU countries. Although EU has high demand for clam products, majority of processing plants in the South has not sourced enough material to meet demand. Fisheries experts predict the clam products remain in high demand in the world markets in years to come.
