Giant clams reaped from Pamilacan island depths?

CEBU, Philippines - Baclayon – While progress in tourism is booming here in its tourist-drawer dolphin-watching business, this oval-shaped 120-ha. Pamilacan island, off Bohol’s oldest town, faces new threat in its endangered giant clams.

This is a big challenge to all stakeholders concerned, said Mr. Loloy Lafuente, OIC of Bohol Environment Management Office (BEMO) and National Museum-Bohol curator Mr. Charlemeine Tantingco in separate interviews last week.

Tantingco expressed concern over this specie (Tridacna gigas or largest living bivalve mollusk) for its rarity that seldom can be found anywhere else. An unknown fisherman caught this kind of species said to be from the depths off this island.

Information Tantingco received was sketchy as to the identity of the fisherman responsible for taking the clam, known in the vernacular as "Taklobo." He said he was told during the recent visit of the Manila-based National Museum officials who inspected the ruins of a Spanish-era stone tower, that the giant clam was gathered sometime early this year.

What the officials saw was the empty shell of the giant clam in knee-high waters and estimated to be more than the size of a rectangular table measuring 2 feet wide and 3 feet long, and several kilos in weight. 

If this were true that indeed the giant bivalves thrive off the island, the specie should be properly probed for conservation, said Lafuente. For his part, Tantingco said that it should be made a tourist attraction.

In a separate interview, island barangay chairman Tanie Gaas confirmed there is this giant clam empty shell left to corrode the beach, allegedly harvested sometime this year but he did not know who was responsible. He added that it was common belief among the islanders that giant clams abound here because of what they observed as "fossilized" prints of these mollusks in the rocky formations of the shorelines.

Tantingco said if he has his way he would take care of this mammoth empty shell that could not be carried by one person alone. He instends to display this at the National Museum of Bohol, the former provincial library, to showcase Bohol’s rich marine biodiversity.

Lafuente, together with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), plans to initiate a move in preserving the giant clams' empty shell and to conduct a probe to find out if they really are thriving.

Gathering Regulated

Gathering, culture and exportation of these clams without permit is penalized under Sec. 16, Fishery Administrative Order No. 168, series of 1990, in accordance with the Presidential Decree 704, known as Fisheries Decree of 1975.

"Any violation of this Order shall subject the offender to a fine of not less than five hundred (P500.00) pesos nor more than five thousand (P5,000.00) pesos or imprisonment from six (6) months to four (4) years, or both; such fine and imprisonment in the discretion of the court. Provided, That the Regional Director is hereby empowered to impose upon the offender an administrative fine of not more than five thousand (P5,000.00) pesos and/or cancel the permit or license, when applicable, and to confiscate the shelled mollusks including the clam meat thereof, if any," the order provides.

Where's the pearl?

Questions arise as to whether there was pearl harvested from the giant clam. If there was, where is it now? And who has it? Nobody knows.

Based on studies, most living mollusks, such as giant clams, produce natural pearls. A pearl "is made up of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers." They form in different shapes and quality.

High quality naturally grown pearls are very expensive compared to cultured ones because they are considered rare and admirable gemstones used for many years as "objects of beauty."

The meat is said to be popular in many countries for protein and gastronomic delight. Also, this can be transformed into medicines; thus, harvesting giant clams at some parts of the world have been banned.

Study shows that giant clams thrive in Calape town as in Tawi-tawi, Sulu, Pangasinan, Ilocos and Camotes Islands in Cebu.