MASS DEATH OF SHORT-NECKED CLAMS

[Anchor Lead]

Short-necked clams grown in the western coast of central Korea are dying in staggering numbers. About half of the clam farms in the Garorim Bay region in Seosan, Chungcheongnam-do Province have reported loss, but neither authorities or clam farmers have figured out the cause of mass mortality.

[Pkg]

A short-necked clam farm in Seosan. Fishermen dig into the mud flat only to find dead clams with open or broken shells. Even those that are still alive are too small to sell in the market. The clam farms in the Garorim Bay region that reported losses measure some 350 hectares in area, accounting for about half the clam farms in the vicinity. Clams began to die off about a month ago, but the mortality rate surged over the Chuseok holiday. Clam farmers are frustrated as they can't figure out the cause of mass mortality.

[Soundbite] PARK HYEON-GYU(PRES., SEOSAN FISHERMEN'S COUNCIL) : "I'm upset that I can't harvest the clams. I don't even have money to live on or give to my grandchildren."

The city government of Seosan and the Chungnam Fisheries Resources Center started collecting samples. The first round of investigation looked into multiple possibilities, such as rising sea water temperature or influx of freshwater, but it is expected to take a few more days to figure out the exact cause and extent of damage.

[Soundbite] PYO YEONG-WAN(SEOSAN CITY GOV'T EMPLOYEE) : "We have asked the National Institute of Fisheries Science for more detailed examination. The institute will determine the cause of clam deaths or damage amount."

The unexplained mass death of short-necked clams continue to threaten fishermen's livelihoods.