MisOcc
establishes Giant Clam Garden at Aquamarine Park
ON SATURDAY, 2 October 2004, Misamis Occidental Governor Loreto Leo
Ocampos together with the Misamis Occidental Media Practitioners Society
(MOMPS) witnessed the turnover of the Giant Clams to the Misamis Occidental
Aquamarine Park (MOAP) to start the MOAP Tridacna Garden Project.
The
Giant Clams were donated by the University of the Philippines Marine
Science Institute (MSI) in Diliman, Quezon City; Davao del Norte State
College; and the Mindanao State University in Naawan, Misamis Oriental.
These schools are the project partners of the Provincial Government
in Giant Clam rehabilitation.
Giant
Clam or Tridacna gigas, as it is scientifically called, is one of the
endangered rare marine species in the Philippines. Locally known as
Taklobo, these clams will help immensely in the restocking or seeding
of Giant Clam breeders in the once-abundant clam sanctuary near the
Puting Balas (White Sand) Island at Libertad Bajo in Sinacaban town,
Misamis Occidental.
“The
areas near our now protected Puting Balas atoll in Sinacaban used to
have Giant Clam Sanctuaries. However, due to rampant gathering disturbance
by farmers for food and for shell craft over the years; and due to the
destruction of the coral reefs caused by dynamite fishing, this species
is now becoming extinct in the area,” Aquamarine Park Superintendent
Jose Satorre lamented.
The
Provincial Government of Misamis Occidental, led by a governor who is
a strong advocate for environmental protection and preservation, envisions
of restoring the splendor of giant clams in the marine environment,
particularly in our Misamis Occidental Aquamarine Park.
“This
rehabilitation of giant clams would complement the Provincial Government’s
intention to establish a Giant Clam Garden at MOAP for propagation and
tourism purposes,” Governor Loreto Leo Ocampos said.
Presently,
three schools have donated giant clams to the MOAP. The Provincial Government
is still looking for partners for the Giant Clams sanctuary rehabilitation.
Once the rehabilitation and project is fully implemented, this will
become the MOAP Tridacna Garden. (Karl Imanoel Aoanan – PIA
10/W. Valles Jr. – Provincial Information Center)
