Where Value-Added Begins

On actively producing giant clam farms, clam shells are produced when clam meat is harvested and when mortalities occur. Storing giant clam shells can quickly become a problem if an efficient plan is not implemented. In our travels to giant clam hatcheries throughout the Pacific, we were dismayed to find that some had unsightly piles of dead clam shells accumulating.

At that point, we clearly saw that adding value to clam shells begins as soon as they are removed from the ocean or the growing tanks. If shells are simply thrown in a pile or scattered around the ground, they appear discarded and lacking in value. No one will expect to pay much, if anything, for them. Indeed, most visitors to the farm will feel free to help themselves to the shells. However, if the clam shells are cleaned, sorted by size and species and stored neatly, their value will already have begun to increase. People appreciate neatness and order, and they will pay for it.

After removing meat from the clam shells, lay the shells out neatly in plastic growing trays or on the ground, preferably on pavement (Figure 1). Within a week or two, the tropical sun will dry, bleach and remove any odor from the shells. The shells may then be processed further or placed into storage bins.

An efficient, virtually indestructible outdoor shell storage bin can be made from 2-foot by 4-foot panels of 1-inch marine mesh. which is available from C. E. Shepherd Co. (Figure 2 ). Simply stitch the panels together with 14-gauge electrical wire to produce a large, sturdy bin. If security is a concern, a mesh lid can easily be added to each bin.

A container that can store up to 20 tons of giant clam shells can be made using the side-wall of a 15-foot-diameter, 4-foot-high Clark “splasher pool” or its equivalent (Figure 3). Splasher pool rings can neatly and efficiently accommodate about 20 wire mesh bins (Figure 4). Storing giant clam shells in this manner sends the message that “these shells have value, and we care enough about them to clean, sort and store them carefully.”

Believe it or not, this approach will allow you to charge higher prices in your gift shop than if the shells were simply left scattered around on the ground. Shell pilferage will also be a smaller problem.