Clam Farming in Palau

[BonsaiNut]

For those of you who weren't around in the 1980's, there was some talk of a total ban on importation of tridacnids due to pressure on native populations from food harvesting activity. Then in the mid 1980's a concerted effort was made to develop sustainable aquaculture of tridacnids as a food source. Once aquaculture best practices were established, farmers suddenly realized the advantages of culturing clams for the aquarium versus food trade (less time required, higher wholesale price). Here are a few excellent videos from back in the day. The quality is low, but they pre-date digital filmography.

Clam Farming in Palau Part 1

Clam Farming in Palau Part 2

 

[Winwood]

Very fascinating. I was particularly interested in the use of ammonium nitrate as a "fertilizer" to increase their growth rates.

 

[Harse Designs]

wow, they should have the biggest clam in the hobby lol,

 

[BonsaiNut]

Very fascinating. I was particularly interested in the use of ammonium nitrate as a "fertilizer" to increase their growth rates.

I don't doubt by now that they have improved their practices even further. These films are 30 years old!

The major benefit of clam farming is that it is low capital / low skilled labor, and can provide job opportunities for a sustainable / eco-friendly business.

 

[Giovanni]

I wish they were still farming gigas clams! Although now that I have downgraded my 330 to a 180 I guess it is a moot point.

 

[ca1ore]

Visited this facility in 2001 when they were still raising Gigas. Saw a number of the latter in the wild there as well.

 

[BonsaiNut]

Visited this facility in 2001 when they were still raising Gigas. Saw a number of the latter in the wild there as well.

I have never heard the rationale why they stopped...

Does anyone know?

 

[ca1ore]

My recollection from comments made by Gerald H. was that the Gigas were hard to handle, slow to mature, and less demanded by the aquarium trade. Space better allocated to Deresa, squamosa, maxima, etc.




This is a photo of a Gigas we encountered while SCUBA diving in Palau. A much younger (and thinner) version of yours truly.

 

[BonsaiNut]

My recollection from comments made by Gerald H. was that the Gigas were hard to handle, slow to mature, and less demanded by the aquarium trade. Space better allocated to Deresa, squamosa, maxima, etc.

This is a photo of a Gigas we encountered while SCUBA diving in Palau. A much younger (and thinner) version of yours truly.

Amazing. I saw some moderate sized clams in Tahiti, but NOTHING like that!

 

[ca1ore]

Yes, it was MASSIVE. Local divers said 4' and 600 lbs. No way for me to judge weight, but length was about right. Interestingly, they would not tell us exactly where we were for fear that local fisherman would then come and remove the clam for eating.

 

[BonsaiNut]

Yes, it was MASSIVE. Local divers said 4' and 600 lbs. No way for me to judge weight, but length was about right. Interestingly, they would not tell us exactly where we were for fear that local fisherman would then come and remove the clam for eating.

My last few trips to Fiji I haven't seen a clam larger than 6". However the locals say that is just because I haven't gone out far enough away from the populated islands. Regardless, I didn't see anything that I would clearly identify as a gigas. In Tahiti same issue - lots of small clams but no large ones.

I am glad they banned the sale of tridacna shells from the wild (you can still buy the ones that are farm-raised). The thought of killing one of these awesome clams just for the shell makes me sad...

 

[Giovanni]

The thought of killing one to eat makes me sad also.

 

[ca1ore]

My last few trips to Fiji I haven't seen a clam larger than 6". However the locals say that is just because I haven't gone out far enough away from the populated islands. Regardless, I didn't see anything that I would clearly identify as a gigas. In Tahiti same issue - lots of small clams but no large ones.

That makes sense actually. My Palau trip was a 10 day live-aboard, so we were able to get to a number of spots that the day boats would be hard pressed to reach. Saw a lot of large clams, including a number of gigas; though the one in the picture was by far the largest (and the biggest the dive boat knew about). Wonder if it's still there 14 years on?

 

[BonsaiNut]

That makes sense actually. My Palau trip was a 10 day live-aboard, so we were able to get to a number of spots that the day boats would be hard pressed to reach. Saw a lot of large clams, including a number of gigas; though the one in the picture was by far the largest (and the biggest the dive boat knew about). Wonder if it's still there 14 years on?

I was just in Fiji last year and visited many anemones (with hosted clowns) that had been in the same spot since two years prior. I was surprised to see how many hadn't moved an inch... including some that were in very questionable locations. There were only a couple of maximas that I remembered; and they were all still in the same spots. I posted a couple of photos above in the "post your clam photos" thread