Giant clam sanctuaries in the Kingdom of Tonga

Abstract

A community based marine sanctuary for giant clams was set up in the Vava'u island group of the Kingdom of Tonga. The public environmental improvement project gave the community participants knowledge of the need for, and problems associated with, marine sanctuaries. During a community sponsored contest, fishermen gathered scattered adults of giant clams from a large area. The clams were placed together in circles inside the boundaries of sanctuaries to act as a brood stock to enrich surrounding reefs. Project volunteers used all available means of promoting public assistance and understanding. While all lines of public communication are needed in such a project, a locally produced short educational video was the most productive method of teaching new concepts to the island people. Before and after surveys of the wild stocks of giant clams demonstrated the sanctuary enhanced local recruitment on adjacent reefs. Village people observed an increase in the settlement of clams on nearby reefs and this helped develop community support. The community giant clam sanctuary has been maintained three years by the Vava'u community with minimal support by the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Natural Resources and the Fisheries Department.