Giant clam with a bleaching mantle

On February 16,  researchers and staff members of the McKeough Marine Center (MMC) together with volunteers (4 Marine Biology students and 1 from SAMDHANA Institute) conducted their 4th giant clam monitoring activity this school year in Agutayan Island, Jasaan, Misamis Oriental.

Aside from recounting and re-measuring the clams, the monitoring also aimed to remark the sites of giant clams in deep water areas and to note the vibrancy or dullness particularly the bleaching marks on the clam’s mantle. Out of the five sites, three sites were monitored and documented completely, namely, shallow (seagrass area), rock site and artificial reef. Divers in the other two deep water sites encountered problems due to strong surface waves and underwater current. Another dive would have to be done within this month to remark the sites and to recount the clams in deep water areas.  Present data when completed would then be compared to the previous ones for significant differences and observations.

Returning home, the 16-person monitoring team aboard a large dive boat had to contend with stronger afternoon waves all throughout the voyage.
This was the main reason why the dive monitoring had to be stopped and rescheduled to a later date.

Next school year, MMC hopes to conduct a more regular monitoring activity to get a better picture of the clam community status and the reason of continued decline in their population.  The Center has drafted a revised Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for proposal to stakeholders to strengthen the protection and management of this beautiful endangered species.