The first-ever spawning on site of the Palawan native species of the biggest giant clam, in order to help increase its declining population, was held recently at Western Philippines University (WPU) Hatchery in Binduyan, Puerto Princesa City.
The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI), forerunner of giant clam conservation in the Philippines, supervised the spawning activity, where about 9.5 million eggs were fertilized from native giant clams located at Dos Palmas Resort and Spa in Palawan. The Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) and partners led the activity.
Dr. Lota A. Creencia of WPU College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences said, “Tridacna gigas [giant clams] is hard to propagate because the population is few. We need to really go to the brood stock [source] to collect eggs and sperms, compared to other species of clams which numbers can still afford to be brought into laboratories.”
Once matured, the native giant clams will be deployed to MFI’s marine protected areas in the north of Palawan.
Sherry Lyn Sayco, researcher at UPMSI, said in mixed Filipino and English, “Giant clams are important because they have many ecological significance, habitat and food for some of the marine animals. It also benefits people because it helps increase fish density.”
Meanwhile, the giant clams, with a known 0.01 percent survival rate, is one of the most endangered clam species and was even declared extinct in the Philippines in the 1980s.
In order to bring it back, UPMSI, under the leadership of National Scientist Dr. Ed Gomez, took specimen from the Pacific Islands and grew it in the country.
Surprisingly, it was found that the Philippine-native species of the giant clams still exists in Palawan. Gomez himself confirmed this during his visit at the spawning site in Dos Palmas.
Creencia said there were reports that prove the giant clams found in Palawan are native “because the sizes found here in Honda Bay are really bigger [compared to those spawned from Pacific Islands], but in order to confirm this we have to conduct a molecular study.”
The spawning activity was in line with MFI’s “String-of-Pearls of Project” that began last year. It successfully increased the population of two other species of giant clams, namely Tridacna squamosa and Hippopus hippopus. They will be deployed to effectively manage marine protected areas (MPAs) in north Palawan communities.
MFI has been partnering with communities, local governments and agencies in Palawan, Oriental Mindoro and Batangas to establish, expand and set-up proper management and protection mechanisms for MPAs since 2013.
MFI’s String of Pearls Project is in partnership with WPU, Palawan State University, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, and Dos Palmas Resort and Spa.
The first-ever spawning on site of the Palawan native species of the biggest giant clam, in order to help increase its declining population, was held recently at Western Philippines University (WPU) Hatchery in Binduyan, Puerto Princesa City.
The University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UPMSI), forerunner of giant clam conservation in the Philippines, supervised the spawning activity, where about 9.5 million eggs were fertilized from native giant clams located at Dos Palmas Resort and Spa in Palawan. The Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI) and partners led the activity.
Dr. Lota A. Creencia of WPU College of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences said, “Tridacna gigas [giant clams] is hard to propagate because the population is few. We need to really go to the brood stock [source] to collect eggs and sperms, compared to other species of clams which numbers can still afford to be brought into laboratories.”
Once matured, the native giant clams will be deployed to MFI’s marine protected areas in the north of Palawan.
Sherry Lyn Sayco, researcher at UPMSI, said in mixed Filipino and English, “Giant clams are important because they have many ecological significance, habitat and food for some of the marine animals. It also benefits people because it helps increase fish density.”
Meanwhile, the giant clams, with a known 0.01 percent survival rate, is one of the most endangered clam species and was even declared extinct in the Philippines in the 1980s.
In order to bring it back, UPMSI, under the leadership of National Scientist Dr. Ed Gomez, took specimen from the Pacific Islands and grew it in the country.
Surprisingly, it was found that the Philippine-native species of the giant clams still exists in Palawan. Gomez himself confirmed this during his visit at the spawning site in Dos Palmas.
Creencia said there were reports that prove the giant clams found in Palawan are native “because the sizes found here in Honda Bay are really bigger [compared to those spawned from Pacific Islands], but in order to confirm this we have to conduct a molecular study.”
The spawning activity was in line with MFI’s “String-of-Pearls of Project” that began last year. It successfully increased the population of two other species of giant clams, namely Tridacna squamosa and Hippopus hippopus. They will be deployed to effectively manage marine protected areas (MPAs) in north Palawan communities.
MFI has been partnering with communities, local governments and agencies in Palawan, Oriental Mindoro and Batangas to establish, expand and set-up proper management and protection mechanisms for MPAs since 2013.
MFI’s String of Pearls Project is in partnership with WPU, Palawan State University, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, and Dos Palmas Resort and Spa.