Long Street Clams

Long Street Clams

Long Street Clams are a geographically indicated agricultural product.

　　Ninghai County has a long history of clam farming, and the clams from Xiayangtu in Changjie are the most famous. As early as the Jiading era of the Song Dynasty (around 1027 AD), a scholar from Ninghai wrote in the "Customs Chapter": "Recently, people gather shellfish such as snails, clams, and mussels to sustain themselves or carry them to other regions for trade." The "Ninghai County Fu" from the second year of the Duanping era (1235 AD) also mentions them, referring to them as clams. The "Ninghai County Annals" from the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty records: "Clams, a type of shellfish, are cultivated in fields called 'clam fields.' They are slender and long like fingers, also known as 'Xi Shi's Tongue' for their exquisite taste." The razor clam has become a famous specialty product of Ninghai County and a leading variety in marine aquaculture. To strengthen branding, the County Ocean and Fisheries Bureau and the Changjie Town Government have successfully held the "Changjie Clam Festival" for six consecutive years. Long Street Clams have won numerous gold awards at various agricultural expos, and in 2010, they were named one of the "Top Ten Aquatic Product Brands in Zhejiang Province." In May 2011, the China Fisheries Association awarded Ninghai the title of "Hometown of Clams in China."

　　Clams, scientifically known as Sinonovacula constricta, are found in the Sanmen Bay area where my county’s Changjie region is located. The area is constantly replenished with fresh water, resulting in brackish seawater with an ideal salinity, abundant food sources, and muddy-sandy seabed. Consequently, the clams grow quickly, grow large, have tender and plump meat, are white in color, and delicious in taste, hence the name Long Street Clams. According to the Qing-era "Ninghai County Annals": Clams, a type of shellfish, are cultivated in fields called 'clam fields.' They are slender and long like a middle finger, also known as 'Xi Shi’s Tongue' for their beauty.

　　The successful hosting of the Long Street Clam Festival has boosted the local clam farming industry and further fueled the ambitious vision of the local government and residents: "Long Street Clams—dominating the world." Long Street Clams have been awarded the title of "Gold Award for High-Quality Agricultural Products at the China Zhejiang International Agricultural Expo."

　　Long Street Clams are mainly produced along the coastal areas of Changjie and Huchen Port in Ninghai, bordering Sanmen Bay. The bays here are calm, with smooth tidal flows, slightly sandy mud, and a constant inflow of fresh water, creating ideal brackish conditions rich in nutrients—making it a prime location for clam cultivation. The clams farmed here are large with thin shells, plump meat, white color, and delicious taste, enjoying widespread fame and known as the "Xi Shi’s Tongue."

　　Applicant: Ninghai County Aquaculture Technology Extension Station

　　Region: 2012

　　Geographic Range

　　The farming area for Long Street Clams (Sinonovacula constricta(Lamarck)) in Ninghai County is located along the eastern coast of Zhejiang, between 29°6′58.15″N to 29°13′10.12″N and 120°38′18.40″E to 121°45′59.98″E, stretching 12.25 km from east to west and 11.86 km from north to south. The farming area covers 8,100 hectares, bordering Xiangshan County to the east and Sanmen County to the south. The specific protected geographic area for the Long Street Clams geographical indication product includes 25 administrative villages under the jurisdiction of Changjie Town: Changjie Village, Chengtang Village, Yanghu Village, Shiqiaotou Village, Xiawantang Village, Changsheng Village, Yuelan Village, Xiangyang Village, Wushan Village, Tangli Village, Dazhu Village, Dahú Village, Pudong Village, Nantang Village, Shantou Village, Shuangjia Village, Donggang Village, Daqing Village, Pingyuan Village, Gangzhong Village, Qingzhu Village, Xinwuxing Village, Wenwei Village, Xin Nan Village, and Ningdong Village, plus the Qingzhu Farm.

　　Product Quality Characteristics

　　(1) External Sensory Characteristics: Uniform individual size, no deformities, intact shells, clean surface, light yellow shell color with yellow-green shell film, clear stripes, glossy inner shell surface; quick response to external stimuli—shells close rapidly when touched, siphons and foot retract swiftly; high plumpness. (2) Internal Quality: White and tender meat, elastic muscle when shucked alive; milky-white and semi-transparent foot; tastes fresh, tender, slightly sweet, with the unique delicate aroma of Sinonovacula constricta. (3) Safety Requirements: Long Street Clams are strictly produced according to the national Ministry of Agriculture’s pollution-free food standards system. Product quality standards follow DB33/504.3—2004 "Quality of Pollution-Free Sinonovacula constricta."