Spring Harvest in Full Swing at Haikou’s 1,000-Mu Razor Clam Farm in Fuqing
As the spring tide rises, the razor clams are fat and plump, marking the perfect time for harvest. Currently, the 1,700-mu razor clam farm in the Sanhua Park of the Fuzhou Taiwan Farmers Entrepreneurship Park in Haikou Town, Fuqing City, is enjoying a bountiful harvest. Nearly 2,000 kilograms of plump razor clams are shipped to the market every day, eventually ending up on the dining tables of local residents.
The workers lined up to harvest the razor clams.
From above, the Sanhua razor clam beds resemble a vast checkerboard embedded in the earth, with over 50 workers lined up, steadily moving across the tidal flats. Wearing waterproof gear and rubber boots, they skillfully harvest plump razor clams from the tidal flats using their clam knives. The workers load the baskets of razor clams onto floating platforms, which are then guided along small ditches to the shore. After sorting and cleaning, the tender, plump razor clams are weighed and packed into baskets, ready to be quickly shipped to the market.
It is reported that one-third of the 1,700-mu aquaculture farm is dedicated to razor clam beds, while the remaining two-thirds are used for water storage ponds. The base follows a scientific crop rotation system, planting two crops of clam fry each year—one around the Qingming Festival and the other in September. This rotation ensures a steady supply of razor clams. The spring harvest is currently in full swing, with harvesting expected to continue until around July.
“Razor clams mainly feed on algae, and this year, with proper algae cultivation, they’ve grown especially plump and robust. The total yield is expected to reach 650,000 kilograms, marking a 10% increase compared to last year,” said Chen Aiguo, head of the Sanhua Farm. These top-quality razor clams are in high demand in the local market in Fuqing and have also drawn vendors from areas like Ningde to make purchases. The daily supply is nearly 2,000 kilograms. (Fuzhou Evening News Reporter: Wang Guanghui; Correspondents: Chen Lan, Gao Xingquan, Text/Photo)