John,
Giant clams, named for their surprising size, live in coastal areas next to coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea. They weigh around 500 pounds — as much as an average male grizzly bear — and can grow to more than 4 feet long.
But giant clams are declining — and in some areas disappearing entirely. Because they’re prized for their meat and beautiful shells, overharvesting and international trade have decimated their populations. Climate change has hurt them too, warming the coral reefs where they live. And like corals, giant clams often respond to warming water by bleaching, which happens when they expel their colorful symbiotic algae (and suffer as a result).
The good news: NOAA Fisheries has proposed protecting 10 giant clam species under the Endangered Species Act. If the proposal is finalized, the Act's safeguards will help these animals overcome threats like overexploitation, international trade, and climate change.
Giant clams desperately need federal protection. The agency needs to know there's no time to waste.
Tell NOAA Fisheries to protect all 10 giant clam species under the Endangered Species Act as soon as possible.
