Local sanctuaries bring giant clams back from the brink

Most people travel to the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) for its beautiful beaches, breathtaking scenery and pleasant climate. But there is another reason to visit, particularly for those who appreciate nature.

In Barangay Adecor in the Kaputian District, visitors can see up close endangered giant clams, known locally as taklobo, while learning how a group of fisherfolk is helping prevent their disappearance from Philippine waters.

The Adecor United Fisherfolk Organization, comprising more than a dozen members, serves as guardian of giant clams relocated through the Giant Clam Stock Enhancement Program initiated by the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP-MSI).

The Marine Reserve Park and Multipurpose Hatchery operates under the local government of IGACOS in partnership with the Davao del Norte State College.

The group protects the giant clams, raises awareness about their importance and provides livelihood opportunities for its members through Taklobo Tours.

The tour includes an hour of snorkeling. Visitors travel by motorized banca from the shore to a floating cottage, where they receive information about giant clams. After instructions, they are required to wear life jackets and are provided with snorkels and masks before swimming to the area where the clams are raised.

Underwater, visitors can see clams measuring between 15 to 40 inches in length on the seabed. Younger clams are found near the shore, while larger specimens are in deeper waters.

Established in 2013, Taklobo Tours has become one of Samal’s tourist attractions. The 14-hectare giant clam area is a community-driven ecotourism project that combines conservation, education, tourism, and livelihood.

Joel Gonzaga, a member of the organization, said visitors are taught about the endangered status of giant clams and the laws protecting them.

“Harvesting them is now illegal, and violators may face penalties of up to three million pesos,” Gonzaga said.

According to the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD), six giant clam species have been introduced in Samal: Tridacna gigas (the largest giant clam), T. derasa, T. squamosa, T. maxima, T. crocea, and T. noae.

T. noae, commonly known as Noah’s giant clam or the teardrop giant clam, is a newly recognized species and a new record for Samal, PCAARRD said. The six species represent 80 percent of the total giant clam species found in the Philippines.

T. squamosa and T. maxima are the most prevalent and are widely distributed throughout the island. The other species, along with the recruits of T. gigas and T. derasa, are primarily found on the western side near the Giant Clams Restocking Site.

There are now more than 3,700 giant clams in Samal’s waters, with about 3,000 classified as mature.

Giant clams are important to coral reef areas. Dr. Cecilia Conaco of the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (MSI) said they contribute to reef formation, filter water, recycle nutrients and provide shelter for other marine organisms.

The initial stocks of giant clams in Samal came from UP-MSI.

Giant clams are not endemic to the Philippines, but the country is among the few places where they are found. They live in shallow, warm waters and are commonly associated with coral reefs.

Conaco said the major challenges to giant clam conservation are overharvesting, habitat degradation, weak enforcement of national regulations and insufficient support for conservation programs.

The Philippine Fisheries Code, or Republic Act 8550, as amended by Republic Act 10654, prohibits the collection, sale and export of giant clams. Violators may face administrative fines ranging from P300,000 to P3 million, in addition to imprisonment and other penalties provided by law.

“Giant clams are being protected through the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs),” said Dr. Guerrero III, former executive director of the Philippine Council for Aquatic and Marine Research and Development.

Guerrero said there is still hope for the species if giant clams are protected in the wild and sea farming is promoted.

For visitors to Samal, the experience at Adecor offers more than an hour in the water. It provides a closer look at a species whose survival depends not only on marine scientists and government programs, but also on communities living beside the sea.