Hope sparked anew for the Philippine aquatic resources as the world’s largest clam species hatched more than 9 million eggs recently.
The Tridacna gigas, more popularly known as “taklobo”, produced about 9.5 million eggs in the hatchery of the West Philippine University (WPU) in Puerto Princesa.
Taklobo is the largest living immobile bivalve mollusk in the world and one of the most endangered species with a survival rate of .01 percent. It was even declared extinct in the 1980s. Marine scientists say their survival is crucial to the food chain in the marine world.
And this particular giant clam that was found in Dos Palmas Island in Palawan is difficult to propagate because its population is so few.
That’s why the Malampaya Foundation Inc. (MFI), WPU, UP Marine Science Institute, Palawan States University, Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, and Dos Palmas Resort & Spa. launched “The String of Pearl Project” to breed giant clams species native to Palawan.
Once the eggs are matured enough, it will be scattered to different protected areas of MFI in northern Palawan.
