Don Hoi Lot loses claim to fame

ENVIRONMENT

Don Hoi Lot - Thai for "the land of razor clams" - is at risk of losing its fame after a study has revealed the famed shellfish are disappearing from Samut Songkhram's mudflats.

Over-harvesting and a deteriorating environment have been blamed for the diminishing razor clam population at Don Hoi Lot. AMNART THONGDEE

The study, commissioned by the Biodiversity Research and Training Programme, shows that Don Hoi Lot's clam population has fallen by more than 90% since 2004.

The molluscs' population has dropped from 4.4 a square metre four years ago to only 0.4 a sqm today, said Kobchai Worrapimphong, a researcher from Chulalongkorn University. "This is shocking," he said. "The little species, which is a staple source of income for the locals, is vanishing from Don Hoi Lot."

Over-harvesting of the razor clams and degradation of the 4,000-rai mudflat's ecology were to blame for the decreasing clam population, Mr Kobchai said.

Don Hoi Lot, also a feeding ground for birds, was registered as a wetland of international importance in 2000.

The researcher called on agencies to curb shellfish harvests in the area to protect the razor clams.

Panuwatra Kongraksa, a member of a Samut Songkhram-based razor clam protection group, said the finding was alarming as the shellfish was a major income source for locals.

Razor clams typically fetch about 100 baht a kilogramme.

The group would work with environmentalists and officials from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to identify threats to the razor clam population and then design measures to protect it, Mr Panuwatra said.

Ten years ago, each villager could catch up to 10kg of razor clams a day, but the harvest has now dropped to less than 3kg a day, he said.