Comments on: Giant Clams — DO NOT EAT!!!

By: Josh J

Josh J — Fri, 08 May 2015 14:38:09 +0000

I was re-watching an old season of Survivor and some of the contestants were harvesting giant clams (relatively small ones, leading me to believe they weren’t even mature clams) I was wondering if anyone involved with the production was held responsible for that. The contestants don’t necessarily have any way of knowing that the clams are endangered but one would imagine the people in charge of the show would be brought up to speed about the endangerment by the local government.

By: Marketman

Marketman — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 11:40:25 +0000

kristin, I know, I love those trees, and I think even featured them in a post several years ago on a road trip down South. I wish there was another way, but I do also see the other side, that road or route does need to be expanded…

By: kristin

kristin — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 10:50:22 +0000

Hi MM, in the topic of conservation..here is another, still from the Island of Cebu …
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/files/2013/10/carcartrees.jpg …its the case of 8 – 100 year old trees as road project casualties in the towns of Naga City to Carcar City, on a road widening project…this is really so sad to think about..

By: Grace

Grace — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 07:08:33 +0000

They are called “giant taklobos”, aren’t they? We saw plenty at Coron Island. They were put near the shore, (maybe about 12 to 15 feet deep), so that tourists could see them when they snorkel. Unforgettable sight. I think many fishermen in Coron grow them. We visited many sites with taklobo/coral gardens.

By: corrine

corrine — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 12:32:20 +0000

My husband and I were in Bantayan Islands last July. We were offered by the boatman those giant clams because he said he knows where to buy them. I declined and told him that they are endangered. I saw the most amazing spot in Palawan where there were giant clams…adult ones. It was an amazing sight. But the waters were deep were they were.

By: Lou

Lou — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 12:19:20 +0000

The kinilaw looks great but thank you for creating awareness.

By: Marketman

Marketman — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 08:46:19 +0000

Dragon, YES, turtles are on the endangered list, several types of them, mostly sea turtles. And they should be protected as well… :(

By: Dragon

Dragon — Sun, 13 Oct 2013 05:47:24 +0000

What about the pawikan? Isn’t that endangered too? I am in a bit of a quandary as a relative, who used to hold the local top office up north, had the gall to post photos eating pawikan eggs. I am so boiling!

By: Ken_L

Ken_L — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 23:10:09 +0000

Sadly, while consumer awareness campaigns are admirable, they have not proven to be effective (witness the continuing strong demand for everything from ivory to marine turtles). Giant clam meat is sometimes processed with a small circular punch and sold in shops as scallops to disguise its origin. There is really no way to conserve endangered species other than rigorous enforcement by the government where the species are potentially harvested … something which I fear is unlikely to reach the top of the priority list in The Philippines any time soon.

By: Marketman

Marketman — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 22:33:29 +0000

Rona, with coral bricks, if I am not mistaken, some of them are actually “quarried” from old coral deposits already considered on the mainland or island, not from active or live reefs, so it wouldn’t be too bad if that were the case. The same way one quarries say marble from romblon…