Species Use Database

Giant clams
Tridacna spp.

Used for Food and feed and Decorative and aesthetic in Micronesia, Federated States of and Pacific - southwest

A. Species

Scientific name: Tridacna spp.

Common name(s): Giant clams

Global IUCN Red List Threat Status:


B. Location of use

Geographic location(s):

  • Micronesia, Federated States of
  • Pacific - southwest

Country/Region:


C. Scale of assessment

Scale of assessment: Sub-national / Sub-region / Sub-State

Name/Details of location: Micronesia, Caroline Islands, Palau


D. Timescale of use

Start Year: 2005

End Year: 2007


E. Information about the use

How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat, Wild species sourced from the wild but reared/cultivated in a managed site and Wild species born/bred and raised/produced in captivity or through artificial propagation

Type of use: Extractive

Practice of use: Targeted fishing harvesting/exploiting or collecting wild aquatic resources

Lethal or non-lethal: Lethal

Does this use involve take/extraction of: The whole entire organism

Purpose(s) of end use: Food and feed and Decorative and aesthetic

Motivation of use: Basic subsistence, Income generation from trade (individual/household/community) and Largescale commercial exploitation for trade

Is this use legal or illegal?: Legal by customary law


F. Information about the Users

Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: Local people and National / local private sector


G. Information about the sustainability of use

Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat, Wild species sourced from the wild but reared/cultivated in a managed site and Wild species born/bred and raised/produced in captivity or through artificial propagation

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable

Details of assessment carried out: This NDF Case study.

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: The farming of giant clams in Palau is conducted as means of promoting biological sustainability and maintaining biodiversity. Palau has 23 conservation areas mandated to replenish these conservation areas with cultured clams for species sustainability and diversity.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable

Details of assessment carried out: This NDF Case study

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Provided ecological sustainability is achieved and maintained, giant clam meat sold locally in hotels and restaurants for $7.00 a pound for soup and or sashimi.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable

Details of assessment carried out: This NDF Case study

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Provided ecological sustainability is achieved and maintained, the other objective of Palau's clam farming initiative is to support food security and money-making opportunity to support and improve standard of living in the community. All clams given to the farmers are free of charge.

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: not recorded

Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered sustainable

Details of assessment carried out: This NDF Case study

Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: Palau enforces that live clams will be transported in a manner that will minimize risk of injury, damage to health, or cruel treatment.


Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species


Record source

Information about the record source: grey_lit

Date of publication/issue/production: 2008-01-01T00:00:00+0000

Source Reference(s):

PALAU CASE STUDY - TRIDACNIDAE (2008).
By Theo Isamu
Director, Bureau of Marine Resources & Marine Resources Scientific Authority of Palau.
NDF WORKSHOP CASE STUDIES
WG 9 – Aquatic Invertebrates
CASE STUDY 2
Tridacnidae
Country – PALAU

Date of record entry: 2023-10-03