BEMO Successfuly Deployed 30 Juvenile Giant Clams in Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol

Last March 5, 2021 we have successfully deployed 30 pieces juvenile Giant Clams (Tridacna gigas) or locally known as Taklobo from the Bohol Giant Clams Hatchery in Sinandigan Ubay, Bohol to Lapinig Islet Marine Sanctuary in Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol  to check suitability of the site as proposed ocean nursery for our juvenile giant clams.

The activity was facilitated by the Coastal Resource Management (CRM) Technical Staff of the Office of the Governor- Bohol Environment Management Office (GO-BEMO) in coordination with the technical staff of LGU Ubay and LGU Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol. 

This is one of the priority programs of the Provincial Government thru Governor ArtYap Bohol with the support of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan thru Vice Gov Rene Relampagos in order to sustain the management of our Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)  in line  with its goal of ensuring food security and reducing poverty incidence to our Boholano communities.

Giant Clams (Tridacna gigas) or commonly called as Taklobo are the world's largest bivalve mollusks. These giants inhabit shallow coral reef waters and are important to the reef ecosystem.

WHY ARE THE GIANT CLAMS IMPORTANT?

Giant clams can provide food for many marine organisms; they clean the ocean water by acting as water filters; and they heavily contribute to coral reef-building. 

HOW HAS MAN AFFECTED GIANT CLAM POPULATIONS?

Poor management and extensive unregulated harvesting of the giant clams has depleted local stocks of many species.

BOHOL GIANT CLAMS HATCHERY PROGRAM

The Bohol Giant Clams Hatchery of the Provincial Government of Bohol is situated at the BFAR 7 Multi Species Hatchery in Sinandigan, Ubay, Bohol has been involved in giant clam mariculture since its full operation on 2019. 

 

 

Facilities and techniques for rearing giant clams were developed at the hatchery. The Bohol Giant Clams Program has successfully reared Tridacna gigas from larvae to juveniles.

Giant clams produced in culture are made available as stock for declining populations of giant clams. They are seeded to Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the province in order to improve their management. Studies have shown that seeding giant clams increases recruitment of a variety of marine species and enhances biodiversity in the marine environment.

To sustain this program, last March 24, 2017, the provincial government, through Hon. Edgar M. Chatto, signed a Memorandum of Agreement with BFAR-7 and Bohol Island State University (BISU) to establish a giant clam hatchery at BFAR Multi-species Hatchery in Sinandigan, Ubay. 

The parties mutually agreed to undertake, execute and implement the Giant Clam Hatchery Project.