Lieyu Blood Clams

Lieyu Blood Clams

Lieyu Blood Clams is a geographical indication certification trademark.

　　The blood clams from the Lieyu production area are a high-economic-value marine shellfish, also known as "wavy blood clams" or "flower clams." Their flesh is tender and nutritious. Fresh clams can be sold directly on the market or processed by shucking and freezing to extend shelf life and expand the sales market. Highly favored by both domestic and international customers, they are not only popular in markets within and outside the province but are also exported in large quantities to regions such as Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and countries like Japan.

　　The Lieyu sea area in Yunxiao County, Dongshan Bay, is the main production region of blood clams in our province, featuring over 80,000 mu of shallow beach tidal flats, of which 25,000 mu are suitable for blood clam farming. To reverse the disorderly production of blood clams, increase technological input, and promote industrialized development, local party committees and governments have placed great importance on the matter. On one hand, they have increased investment in technology, and on the other, they have hired relevant experts and technical personnel to provide technical guidance for the breeding and cultivation of blood clams. Through technical measures such as enhanced spat forecasting, adjusted farming density, controlled fishing intensity, restricted harvesting seasons, and improved production methods, the blood clam resources have achieved healthy and sustainable development, significantly improving both product quality and quantity.

　　The Lieyu Supply and Marketing Cooperative in our county has established the Lieyu Blood Clam Professional Cooperative, led by director Lin Zhensheng. Relying on the leading enterprise "Yunxiao County Zhanglian Aquatic Products Co., Ltd.," it implements integrated production, supply, and sales. It has attracted shareholding participation from 100 farming households and has driven over 500 farming households, achieving favorable economic and social benefits.

　　Yunxiao County is located along the southeast coast and features a South Asian tropical marine monsoon climate, with evergreen seasons, abundant sunlight, and a pleasant climate. The region has a well-developed water system, ample freshwater resources, and very rich marine fishery resources, producing premium aquatic products such as mud clams and blood clams.

　　　　According to the "Yunxiao County Annals," Yunxiao County has 188,100 mu of freshwater and inland seawater surfaces, of which 109,500 mu are suitable for aquaculture. The inland and shallow sea areas with depths within 10 meters cover 99,900 mu, and there are 34,000 mu of tidal flats, mainly located in the Zhangjiang Bay and Dongshan Bay areas. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, apart from land reclamation, Dongshan Bay still had nearly 9,000 mu of tidal flats. Over the years of development, it has been used for cultivating species such as flower clams, wavy blood clams, and blue crabs. These areas are suitable for aquaculture, and the cultivated seafood has neither salty brine flavor nor the muddy smell of freshwater, offering tender, sweet, fragrant meat with extremely high nutritional value.

　　　　In 1978, over 20,000 mu of new blood clam beds were discovered in Dongshan Bay within Yunxiao. To protect coastal blood clam resources, planned production began in 1982 in coastal areas such as Chen Dai and Jiao Mei. In 1987, it was expanded to Lieyu Town in Yunxiao County according to plan. The current main production area is also in Lieyu Town, hence the name Lieyu Blood Clams, which also includes the production area in Jiao Mei Village, Chen Dai Town. Currently, Lieyu Town has 30,000 mu of production area with an output value of 600 million yuan, and Jiao Mei Village in Chen Dai Town has 4,000 mu, totaling 34,000 mu with a combined output value of 680 million yuan. There are many blood clam farmers in Lieyu, with a large-scale farming operation, making it a pillar marine product industry in Yunxiao County.

　　　　The product quality characteristics of "Lieyu Blood Clams" include “thin shells, oval-shaped, with beautiful brownish patterns on the shell surface and concentric growth lines centered at the umbo, smooth shell edges, purplish-red color in the central inner surface of the shell, and a slender, lanceolate lunule.” In recent years, to expand the influence and enhance the reputation of Lieyu Blood Clams, government departments at all levels have organized multiple "Lieyu Blood Clam Culture Festivals." Especially in 2010, the "Lieyu Blood Clam Culture Festival" jointly held by the Zhangzhou Municipal Government, the Provincial Department of Aquaculture, and the Provincial Tourism Bureau further pushed the farming scale and popularity of Lieyu Blood Clams to new heights.