This bid is for one set - two matching halfs of a 12-1/2" Tridacna Derasa Giant Clam Shell. 

My pictures do not show the true beauty of this shell. Beautiful ruffles.The clam in the picture - is the actual clam.

My wife is from the Republic of Palau. On a recent trip to visit her family she purchased several Giant Clam shells. After a long trip to the far north of the island of Babeldoap she met directly with several clam farmers. Each farmer has a small area of sea floor in the shallow sandy reefs in which they take care and tend their clams. These shells were purchased direct the clam farmers she met on her trip. These clams either died naturally or the meat sold for food purposes. These shells require a Marine Resourse Export Certification and only farm raised clams are allowed to be exported.

• The pictures in this bid are the actual clam that will be shipped.
• The pictures of the buildings - are Palau Mariculture Demonstration Center. This center supplies farmers with 2cm seed clams to begin their farms. See more below.    
• This clam is beautiful and will make a great addition to any collection
• Please let us know if you have any comments or questions. We are happy to answer them.
• My wife did ask we include the below information on Palau, so Palau will be known by others. It is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I was lucky enough to serve 2 years in Palau as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

For more information on Palau, click on the below sites

http://www.visit-palau.com

http://www.janeresture.com/palau/Palau.htm

http://www.destmic.com/palau.html

Information on Palau & Palau Mariculture Demonstration Center

Palau is located in the western part of Micronesia in the Pacific, and comprises 343 islands. In 1947, Palau became part of the strategic United Nations Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands under the administrative authority of the United States of America (USA). Palau became an independent nation on 1 October 1994 under the implementation of the Compact of Free Association between Palau and the USA. The 2000 Census of Population indicates that the population in 2000 was 19,129.

BACKGROUND

Aquaculture was introduced in Palau over 30 years ago. Although trials to culture several species have been successfully carried out in Palau since the 1970s, its commercial success to-date has been limited. The Micronesian Mariculture Demonstration Center (MMDC) was established in Palau in 1993 to serve Palau and the other US-affiliated Pacific Islands by developing, demonstrating and promoting mariculture technology. In early 1980s, it became the sole property of the Government of Palau, and later was renamed as the Palau Mariculture Demonstration Center (PMDC) that also serves as a regional mariculture training centre and a marine science research laboratory. The PMDC has carried out culture of giant clams, prawns, crabs, rabbitfish, seaweed, soft corals, trochus, oysters, crocodiles and turtles, and recently groupers. Palau was the first country to succeed in a mass production of giant clams (Tridacnidae) during the 1970s. Many countries in the Pacific were recipients of Palau's cultured clam broodstock which were utilized in their own giant clam projects. However, in 1994, giant clams began its down-fall as a commercially viable species due to change in the management of the PMDCs giant clam hatchery. Recently, the management is slowly picking up its production until an expert is put in place to effectively boost up the production to attract public interest and means to further strengthen and promote regional and international markets. In the recent restructure of the Bureau of Marine Resources (BMR), Ministry of Resources and Development, the PMDC has become under the BMR's Aquaculture and Mariculture Branch.

The giant clams (Tridacna crocea, T. derasa, T. gigas, T. maxima, T. squamosa, Hippopus hippopos and H. porcellanus) have been identified as valuable resources for Palau. Its demand and high price in some of the international markets have caused intensive fishing of the species. In the natural environment, it takes 3 to 5 years to reach its sexual maturity. The maturity differs from one animal to another depending on the richness of its environment that provides food. According to the information obtained from professional fishermen, the natural population of giant clams has been declining significantly due to over-fishing. It has been reported that some fishermen harvested giant clams taking only the adductor muscle and leaving the rest behind.

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GIANT CLAM SEA FARMING PROGRAM

In 1996, the first giant clam sea farming was initiated by a few individuals and State Governments. Since 1998, farmers have been supported by the PMDC who provided giant clam seeds as well as materials to protect their farms. The President of the Republic of Palau stated in his Presidential Address of the Year 2001 that a total of 5 million giant clams would be planted in the sea around Palau by 2008. The Giant Clam Sea Farming Program was formulated jointly by the BMR of the Ministry of Resources and Development and the Bureau of Economic Development (BED) of the Ministry of Commerce and Trade.. The objectives of the Programme is to establish giant clam breeding stock to enhance its natural stocks in the reef areas which will be utilized in the community, to initiate small income generating activities for communities by utilizing clam meat, shells and live clams; and to further promote the management and conservation of reef fisheries resources. Under this Program, the National Workshop on Giant Clam Culture, Conservation and Ocean Based Nursery Management was conducted to ensure appropriate technology transfer to State level. The number of established giant clam farms to-date is 37 spread in 12 States out of 16 States in Palau.