In Search of Giant Clams

From Jennifer Marohasy

By jennifer

Back in 1992 the Australian Navy was called in to rescue 90,000 giant clams. Well, that was the headline in the Sydney Morning Herald back then – 32 years ago.

In fact, the clams were still small, the offspring of a successful artificial breeding program at Orpheus Island. The species, Tridacna gigas, is considered endangered. How to get all these baby giant clams into the wild.

Rumour has it that the very largest of these clams can now be found only at Grub Reef.

Yes, the Australian Navy came to the rescue and the clams were dropped at various reefs across the Great Barrier Reef, including Grub Reef.

Ever in search of the truth – and an adventure, I’m going to Grub Reef in search of giant clams!

I’m planning to be diving Grub Reef on Tuesday 3rd September 2024 as part of a new underwater mega-fauna photographic competition.

I won’t be a competitor. I will be the host, and along with the skipper Paul Crocombe from Adrenalin Dive, we will be doing everything possible to give competitors the best chance to find and photograph the very largest clam.

More information at https://jennifermarohasy.com/megafauna/

Applications close in just two weeks!

The feature image is of me (Jennifer Marohasy) back in January 2020 with a giant clam at the Cod Hole, part of the Ribbon Reefs.  This image is a clip from a short film I made back then entitled ‘Clowns on the Ribbons Edge’ with Clint Hempsall, to watch click here.