Background:
The giant clams Tridacna gigas and Hippopus hippopus are endangered species which are locally extinct in some areas of the Philippines as well as the entire Indo-Pacific Region. The giant clams as well as the other species of clams are included in the list of endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Safeguarding the seeded giant clams does not entail ownership by either the Steward or the LGU and will remain as property of the people of the Philippines and the future generations. The clams are being seeded with the intention of keeping them on the reefs so that they may spawn, propagate and ultimately increase in number saving them from possible extinction. Proscribe from neither selling nor trading the giant clams and ensure that other parties be proscribed from doing the same. Even if the clams die, their shells shall not be sold nor alienated, but left on the reef to create a substrate for corals and other animals. The site of the reseeded giant clams is in the marine protected area of Agutayan Island, Jampason, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental, part of the Macajalar Bay in Region 10.
Rationale:
This activity was initiated by the Project dubbed as “Seven Thousand Clams for Seven Thousand Islands” to seed these giant clams to replenish the country’s depleted stocks by establishing breeding populations in the wild, spearheaded by the former Marine Ecosystem Council CDO Chapter who successfully maintained and monitored the clams until turned over to XU-MMC in 2006. The XU-McKeough Marine Center with the LGU of Jasaan have embarked on continuing these initiatives through the monitoring and management of the giant clams in Agutayan Island, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental for propagation and distribution of stocks in Macajalar Bay and other areas to reestablish local giant clam populations where feasible and suitable. The coastal municipalities of Misamis Oriental made an alliance named Macajalar Bay Development Alliance and one of their functions is to coordinate with concerned agencies all plans, measures and activities pertaining to the conservation, protection, rehabilitation, utilization, and development of fisheries, marine and coastal resources in Macajalar Bay.
Objective
Main objective of this project is to help bring back the giant clam population in the wild. It envisions to put together various sectors of civil society in a concerted effort to save the endangered species from total extinction. The project will also provide opportunities for learning and contribute to the environmental awareness of those directly and indirectly involved that they will come up with measures that will provide local protection for the seeded clams.
Expected Output
This project aims to successfully spawn giant clams from the available broodstocks especially in Northern Mindanao and rear these seeds both in the land-based and ocean-based set-ups. To spread awareness to the different areas of Northern Mindanao the importance of giant clams and be able to teach them on how they can create livelihood out of these endangered species not as food of shell craft but through eco-tourism. The efforts made will served as a bridge to provide local seedstocks in the nearby municipalities of Northern Mindanao.
Significance to Community
Restocking of giant clams in the depleted reefs of Northern Mindanao produce local stocks which can easily be distributed and acquired by the different localities of Northern Mindanao.