SANTA  ANA, Cagayan—The booming tourism and fisheries industries in this town are expected to grow further as workers from government and private agencies initiated starting last week efforts to enhance the marine ecosystem here via the Reeforestation Project.

Reeforestation, a term coined by proponents of the project by fusing the words reef and forest, involves seeding or placing giant clams in preidentified microsites about 10 feet below the water’s surface and enhanced with transplanted corals to form an underwater scenic spot called a clam garden.

The giant clam garden was established near Palaui island, a 15-minute boat ride from the San Vicente port here. 

The  first such project in Region 2, reforestation intends to raise the fish population while offering tourists a unique attraction.

The project is a joint undertaking of the Cagayan Economic Zone Authority, Department of Tourism, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, Philippine Navy and nongovernment organizations. 

“The clam garden will function as a habitat as the transplanted corals and algae, and corals that will grow on the shells of the giant clams will attract other marine species,” said Louie Mencias, president of the Marine Ecosystem Council and Reefo-restation Project leader.

“Also, there will be an increase in fish population as project beneficiaries learn to protect the site,” Mencias added.

Around 125 giant clams culled from three different species—Tridacna squamosa, T. crossea and T. maxima—were tagged and “embedded” in the microsites in clusters of 10 to 30 pieces per hill. Broken coral fragments were likewise gathered near the sites and attached to steel rods and others substrates to form the coral garden’s basic shape. 

Volunteer divers from nearby areas gathered the clams.

Having giant clams relatively close to each another will also facilitate their reproduction as these giant mollusks, the biggest in the world, are known as free spawners, said Mencias, explaining that mature clams simultaneously secrete eggs and sperm that pave the way for a “chance encounter” in open waters.

Meanwhile, Department of Tourism regional director Blessida Diwa said the project exemplifies the “vacation-volunteer” approach of the agency.

“Tourists will learn more about the environment when they visit this project, which hopefully will inspire them to work toward its protection,” Diwa said. 

Lodge owner Trevor John Taylor said the project can be of great help in the local tourism industry. He noted that tourists and residents alike “need to be more concerned with the environment in order to ensure sustainability.”

English expatriate Taylor said he plans to diversify into whale watching in the near future.

Santa Ana is known as the “game fishing capital” of the country and home to the Cagayan Special Economic Zone.