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

Clams to Cash: How to Make and Sell Giant Clam Shell ProductsPage IAbout the AuthorGerald Heslinga was the manager of the Micronesian Mariculture DemonstrationCenter in Koror, Republic of Palau, from 1984 to 1994. He led the research team thatdeveloped many of the giant clam hatchery techniques now employed at facilities throughoutthe tropical Pacific. He has written more than 30 technical articles on invertebratereproduction, mariculture and marketing and is the author, along with Thomas Watson andTheofanes Isamu, of the comprehensive production manual titled Giant Clam Farming,which was published in 1990. Heslinga resides in Hawaii, where he owns and operates Indo-Pacific Sea Farms. He can be reached at P.O. Box 1206, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96745.AcknowledgmentsThis manual was prepared as part of the work under a project titled “AquacultureExtension and Training Support in the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands--Year Six.” Financialsupport for this work was provided by the Center for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculturethrough a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A. grant # 92-38500-7262).The author greatly appreciates the assistance of the Micronesian MaricultureDemonstration Center (MMDC) giant clam hatchery staff, especially Tom Watson, DonHanser, Asap Bukurrou, Setts Mongami, Lawrence Sumor and Jay Oruetamor. Theseindividuals spent countless hours creating giant clam shell craftware, patiently teaching andguiding our visitors and often contributing original thoughts and exceptional talents that ledto better products and more satisfied customers.A special thanks is extended to Noah ldechong, Theofanes Isamu and the late Davidldip for helping to create a positive work environment at MMDC and for providing space,both literally and figuratively, for the expression of our entrepreneurial instincts. As a result,the shell products designed and created at MMDC were a source of delight and value to themany thousands of tourists, local residents and school children who visited Palau’s MMDCGift Shop between 1989 and 1994.Patti Killelea-Almonte did the layout and design of this publication. Bill Perryclearshot the photographs. The companion videotape was filmed and edited by Kevin Davidsonand Gerald Heslinga.The views expressed in this publication are strictly those of the author and do notreflect the views of the Center for Tropical and Subtropical Aquaculture or the U.S.Department of Agriculture or any staff of those agencies.June 1996