Shellfish

Shellfish

　　Shellfish

　　Dandong has a marine territory of 5.25 million mu, including 1.06 million mu within the 0–10 meter depth contour, of which 500,000 mu are suitable for shellfish bottom culture and enhancement. The tidal flat area covers 363,000 mu, with 188,000 mu suitable for shellfish farming. Two major rivers, the Yalu River and the Dayang River, flow into the nearby sea, providing a flat seabed with a moderate mix of mud and sand, abundant food organisms, making it an ideal habitat for shellfish growth and reproduction. Dandong’s shellfish excel in color, size, taste, and plumpness, enjoying high popularity both domestically and abroad.

　　The city has a total of 41 species of marine shellfish, with major economic varieties including the Manila clam, carpet shell, square whelk, mud snail, clam, razor clam, blood clam, cockle, and Chinese clam, among more than ten types. Over the years, Dandong’s shellfish farming industry has developed into a sizable sector. By the end of 2000, the city’s shellfish culture and enhancement area reached 591,000 mu, with an output of 78,000 tons and a production value of 459 million yuan. Currently, there are 80 shellfish production units and over 30 processing and distribution enterprises in the city, with an annual processing capacity of more than 50,000 tons. The shellfish farming industry has become a leading and distinctive sector of Dandong’s fisheries, as well as an important shellfish production base for the entire province.