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By Bohol Standard

While progress in tourism is fast booming in its tourist-drawer dolphin-watching business here, this oval-shaped 120-ha. Pamilacan island, off this oldest town, faces new threat or gain in endangered giant clams.

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

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

Information he received was sketchy as to who was the fisherman responsible for the taking of the clam, known in vernacular as “Taklobo.” He said he was told during the recent visit of the Manila-based National Museum officials to inspect the old ruins of 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 that stands about knee-high of a man and estimated to be more than the size of a rectangular table measuring 2 feet wide and 3 feet long and of several kilos in weight.

If this is true that indeed the giant bivalves thrive from the depths off the island, the species should be properly probed for conservation, said Lafuente. For his part, Tantingco said that if it is true, then it should be made to the tourism advantage rather than harvesting them indiscriminately.

In separate interview, island barangay chairman Tanie Gaas confirmed there is this giant clam empty shell left in corrosion at the beach, which was allegedly harvested sometime this year but he did not know who took it. He added it was common and strong belief among the islanders here that indeed 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 may not be carried by one person alone. And he would display this at the National Museum Bohol, the former provincial library, to showcase that Bohol is rich in marine biodiversity.

Lafuente, on the other hand, plans, together with authorities concerned like the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), to initiate move in preserving the giant clams’ empty shell and further to indorse move for the conduct underwater probe to find out if they really are thriving. (RVO)

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