Close-up of giant coxcomb oyster attracting tourists in Con Co Island

It is said that tourists visiting Con Co island without enjoying giant coxcomb oysters will not be considered true visitors to this island.

The giant coxcomb oyster is a bivalve mollusk. This species has a large body size and is rich in nutrients with a protein ratio of 67.8- 89.6%.

Coxcomb oyster is found in Con Co Island and the reef area, about two knots from Vinh Thai’s shore, Vinh Linh District, Quang Tri.

They are called the giant coxcomb oyster due to their saw-tooth mouth; each can weigh over 3kg with a life cycle of up to decades. Coxcomb oysters are a popular food and an indispensable dish for tourists when coming to the outpost island of Con Co.

In Con Co, the oyster season lasts from March to September. They are often harvested by hand or tools such as small hammers, crowbars, and diving knives. They are mainly served as culinary needs in Con Co island; some are transported to the mainland for consumption as gifts.

Since 2017, coxcomb oysters have been harvested extensively in Con Co and surrounding areas to serve tourists on the island. Currently, a raw one is sold to restaurants by fishermen at prices ranging from VND25,000-45,000 (US$1.01-1.82). After processing, restaurants sell them to tourists for VND70,000-100,000 ($2.83-4.05) each. Coxcomb oysters can be made into delicious dishes such as grilled, steamed, and porridge.

Tran Khuong Canh, Deputy Director of the Board of Management of Con Co Marine Protected Area (MPA), and his partners have recently conducted a study to evaluate the status of exploitation and distribution of coxcomb oysters in the area.

The result shows that the density of coxcomb oysters distributed in this area is quite high, averaging 0.13 individual/m2, and the number of individuals tends to increase with depth. It was estimated that the reserve of coxcomb oysters with a shell size of 5cm or longer distributed in functional subdivisions of MPA at the time of July 2023 was about five million.

The increasing demand for coxcomb oysters is causing pressure on higher exploitation in Con Co MPA. Developing management solutions and sustainable exploitation in this area becomes an urgent issue.

Con Co Island Marine Protected Area is considered one of the areas with high biodiversity. Research has recorded 954 marine species, including 133 species of phytoplankton, 97 species of zooplankton, 136 species of coral, 182 species of coral reef fish, 302 species of zoobenthos, 96 species of seaweed, one species of seagrass and six species of mangrove.

Duc Nghia - Khuong Canh - Huy Anh