Consuming snails and giant clams is not recommended on island-hopping and snorkeling tours with Onbird

Giant Clams Are Under Great Pressure In Phu Quoc

In Phu Quoc, the giant clam population is under significant strain due to overfishing. The substantial demand for these clams, particularly from boat tours and local restaurants on the island, is leading to their depletion, posing a threat to the coral reefs in the area.

It is important to understand the many benefits that giant clams offer to strengthen the case for their conservation.

Overfishing is posing a serious threat to giant clams, which are an important component of Phu Quoc’s marine ecosystem. The local restaurants and boat tours are putting more pressure on locals to accommodate their tourists, which is causing overexploitation of these clams and endangering the coral reefs nearby.

It is crucial to be knowledgeable about the importance of giant clams to the marine ecosystem for effective conservation.

Giant Clam look colorful at a coral reef

Giant Clams Role – Dont Consume Giant Clam and Snail

Giant clams play a crucial role in the marine ecosystem

• Predators and scavengers feed on their tissues, while opportunistic feeders consume their discharges of live zooxanthellae, feces, and gametes. The shells of giant clams provide a surface for colonization by epibionts, while commensal and ectoparasitic organisms live within their mantle cavities.
• Giant clams make the reef more diverse and act as reservoirs of zooxanthellae, which can help counteract eutrophication (the decomposition of the plants depletes the supply of oxygen, leading to the death of animal life)  through water filtering.
• Lastly, dense populations of giant clams contribute to the reef framework by producing large amounts of calcium carbonate shell material.

Clam living on the rock at U-Turn, Phu Quoc Snorkeling & Diving spot

The practice of catching giant clams for tourism sales has been occurring for many years in Phu Quoc. However, according to Onbird’s observations from 2024, it appears that the local extinction of these enormous clams is imminent. This explains why they are hardly noticeable in coral reefs, as many have been captured and removed from their natural environments.

Giant clams are being harvested by fishermen and boat workers at the reefs that have been declared as marine protected areas (MPAs), with the intention of selling them for local boat trips. Remember that buying and eating huge clams is strictly prohibited because it is against the law and detrimental to the marine environment. It is therefore imperative that we refrain from trading and consuming these species under all circumstances.

Eliminating Seafood Sales on Snorkeling Tours

Onbird is working to increase public knowledge of sustainable tourism, especially in relation to OnBird discovery snorkeling tours. Upon the removal of seafood sales, we pledge to continue providing guided snorkeling trips. Since enormous clam species are at danger of going extinct locally, conservation efforts must focus on preserving them.