Clams to Cash: How to Make and Sell Giant Clam Shell ... - eXtension

Clams to Cash: How to Make and Sell Giant Clam Shell ProductsPage 1IntroductionGiant clam farms currently operate in many tropical Pacific nations, particularly inthe islands of Micronesia, Polynesia and Melanesia. Much has been written about giant clambiology and the technical aspects of mariculture production. Less well explored, however, isthe topic of processing and marketing giant clam products.In order for clam farmers to realize the maximum return on capital and labor investedin their mariculture operations, they must thoroughly use all parts of the harvestedspecimens. This means developing strategies to fully exploit both meat and shells of thecultured clams and adding value to these raw products through creative processing andmarketing.This manual was written to help giant clam farmers process and sell the shellsproduced on their farms. Although clam shells often are viewed as a by-product of farmingoperations or even as a disposal problem, with a little effort and imagination, those clamshells can be converted to cash.The methods described here were developed and proven over the five-year periodfrom 1989 to 1994 by the staff of the Micronesian Mariculture Demonstration Center(MMDC) giant clam hatchery in the Republic of Belau. During that period, thousands of theshells grown on the MMDC farm were processed by the hatchery staff and marketed on-siteto tourists and local visitors who patronized the MMDC gift shop. Occasionally, large ordersfor shell ornaments or crafted shell products were shipped abroad to international customers.In 1994, MMDC’s shell-craft products became the Belau government’s gift of choice forvisiting dignitaries. By then, MMDC’s shell-craft gifts had gained both a local andinternational reputation for quality and uniqueness at an affordable price.A 10-minute videotape, shot at MMDC in late 1994 and edited in mid-1995,accompanies this manual. The video is intended as a supplement to the manual but may infact be the primary training tool in areas of the Pacific where English is not commonly reador spoken.We hope that the information presented here will encourage thoughtful andproductive use of the region’s increasing giant clam shell resource. As demonstrated byMMDC, an entrepreneurial approach to making and selling tridacnid shell products cansignificantly improve the overall economics of giant clam mariculture operations and canhelp Pacific island clam farmers more quickly achieve profitability.June 1996