Fifty clams were planted in Palau’s Ngiwal state recently as part of an ecotourism initiative.
Palau International Coral Reef Center planted 25 bear claw clams and 25 baby giant clams as part of a plan to develop sustainable community-based mangrove ecotourism in Ngiwal state.
The project could serve as a model for nationwide expansion, according to the coral reef center.
Officials hope that as the 50 clams mature, they will serve as breeding stock for adjacent areas.
The effort isn’t the only one involving clam-planting in Micronesian waters.
Last month, The Nature Conservancy transported and stocked 3,600 bear paw clams and 75 giant clams in Chuuk Lagoon.
Giant clams have been extinct from the lagoon for years, according to The Nature Conservancy.