Page "Giant clam" Paragraph 21

Seven of the nine known species of giant clams in the world are found in the coral reefs of the South China Sea.

In Sabah ( Malaysian Borneo ), these 7 species of giant clams are found within its waters.

A programme to propagate endangered giant clams for release into the wild have been ongoing since 2007.

Undertaken by the Marine Ecology Research Centre ( www. merc-gayana. com ) based in Gaya Island just west of Sabah ’ s capital, Kota Kinabalu, the programme successfully nurtured all seven species of the giant clams found in Malaysian waters to sufficient maturity for them to be placed in an ocean nursery for the first time during an Awareness Month happening from the 22nd of March till the 22 of April 2012 in Maloham Bay.

This Marine Awareness month March 2012 – April 2012 had been planned to highlight and celebrate MERC's success in raising the giant clams spats to juvenile stage, to highlight the importance of the giant clams and to raise awareness and support with the general public on the threats that are faced by the giant clams within the sea.

During this Marine Awareness Month, the coral restoration program will enter its final stage and attachment of 1000 one year old coral fragments grown at MERC's ocean nursery onto the coral reef would be done throughout the month.

The coral restoration program is aimed to provide the giant clams with a suitable home surroundings when they are big enough in the future to be placed onto the reef.