In the early 1980's, the Giant Clam Hatchery at the
Republic of Palau's Micronesian Mariculture
Demonstration Center (MMDC) became the first laboratory
in the world to achieve successful commercial-scale
mass production of Tridacna Clams.

 Along with the giant clam mariculture project at Australia's
James Cook University (Orpheus Island Research Station),
MMDC played a central role in the transfer of Tridacna
breeding technology throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific region
for use as a food resource, as well as the restocking
of giant clams into overharvested reefs.