Overview:
Palau has opened its first community-managed satellite giant clam hatchery, marking a major step forward for sustainable aquaculture in the country. The hatchery, launched on June 26, 2026, in Koror, is the result of a partnership between Conservation International Palau, the Palau Aquaculture Alliance, and Watson and Sons Aquaculture Palau, with funding from the New Zealand Government's Manaaki Fund. By giving local farmers better access to high-quality giant clam seedlings, the initiative aims to reduce pressure on wild clam populations, restore reef ecosystems, and create new livelihood opportunities, particularly for women transitioning from wild harvesting to aquaculture. The launch followed a national training and learning exchange that equipped community members with the technical skills needed to grow clam farming into a sustainable industry.
- First community-managed satellite giant clam hatchery has been launched in Palau
- Training provided to equip local giant clam farmers so they can build sustainable livelihoods through aquaculture
- Initiative helps restore a culturally important species and strengthen climate resilience
Koror, Palau — 26 June 2026: Community leaders, aquaculture practitioners, government representatives and conservation partners have gathered to celebrate a major milestone for sustainable aquaculture in Palau with the opening of the country’s first community-managed satellite giant clam hatchery.
Funded by the New Zealand Government through the Manaaki Fund and implemented by Conservation International Palau, Palau Aquaculture Alliance, Watson and Sons Aquaculture Palau, the initiative aims to strengthen climate resilience and support the potential for sustainable community-based aquaculture initiatives that improve food security, create livelihood opportunities and help rehabilitate marine ecosystems.
“The goal of the new satellite hatchery is to increase access local farmer access to high-quality giant clam seedlings, helping communities expand sustainable aquaculture while reducing pressure on wild giant clam populations.” said Tarita Holm, Conservation International’s Technical Director.
The hatchery opening followed a national learning exchange and training program on giant clam aquaculture on Thursday 25 June, to equip community members with the technical skills needed to build sustainable businesses.
Palau is home to eight of the world’s twelve giant clam species. These animals filter seawater, support coral reef health and provide a traditional source of food for communities. However, overharvesting, habitat degradation and climate change have contributed to declining populations across Palau and the wider Pacific.
The project aims to help Palau reverse this trend by supporting hatchery-based production, providing community trainings, and are assessing market opportunities for women gleaners, to switch from wild harvest to instead engage in sustainable giant clam farming.
Holm said, “This is about empowering communities to lead the restoration of giant clam populations while creating new opportunities for sustainable livelihoods. For generations, giant clams have been more than a source of food for Palau, they have been a source of resilience. Traditionally giant clams have provided a reliable source of protein when there’s bad weather and men could not go fishing. Today, as climate change increases the frequency and severity of the impact of bad weather, restoring giant clam populations can help us strengthen both food security and community resilience.”
At the hatchery, a locally commissioned mural was unveiled, to educate visitors to the hatchery about giant clam farming, while highlighting the deep cultural significance of giant clams in Palauan society and their important role in maintaining healthy reef ecosystems.
The project aligns with Palau’s vision for a sustainable blue economy and contributes to the goals of the Palau Blue Prosperity Plan, which seeks to balance conservation, economic opportunity and community wellbeing across the nation’s ocean resources.
For Bernice Ngirkelau and Latii Shmull, leaders of the Palau Aquaculture Alliance, the launch represents years of work to strengthen support for giant clam farmers and create pathways for future growth.
“Palau has a proud history of giant clam aquaculture, but many farmers have faced challenges accessing seedlings, training and markets,” said Ngirkelau.
“This new satellite hatchery and training program are helping create the support system farmers need to succeed and ensuring knowledge can be shared between communities for generations to come.”
Shmull added, “We are especially excited to see more women participating in aquaculture and developing skills that can support their families while helping protect Palau’s marine resources.”
Dr. Staci Lewis, who led the Value Chain Analysis of Palau’s Giant Clam Sector and presented this at the exchange said “Giant clam aquaculture is one of Palau’s most promising opportunities to create sustainable livelihoods, support communities and culture, and advance its conservation goals all at the same time.
Lewis added, “The expansion of clam farming would create a triple benefit. This could improve livelihoods, increase supply to the domestic market, and by moving gleaners away from wild clam populations, this could reduce pressure on wild populations, supporting reef rehabilitation—not just here in Palau, but across the Pacific—and this creates incentives for stewardship.”
Tom Watson of Watson and Sons Aquaculture Palau, an implementing partner of the project and member of the PAA, whose family has been involved in giant clam farming for three generations said, “We’re trying to build an industry in Palau. The science is there, the knowledge to raise the animals is there. Now it’s a matter of scaling this up together.”