Overcoming a ‘Clamity’: SWOT Analysis Uncovers Priorities to Improve Giant Clam Conservation in Southeast Asia
ABSTRACT Giant clams in Southeast Asia are impacted by overfishing, habitat loss and climate change. To help prioritise pathways for more effective conservation, a multi‐stakeholder roundtable applied a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis across three themes: protection measures, mariculture for conservation and multi‐stakeholder engagement. Analysis revealed that strong international and national legislations support protection, but weak enforcement, limited funding and low public awareness emerged as persistent barriers. This policy brief, drawing on regional experiences, also underscores the importance of community engagement, financial sustainability and science communication as drivers of inclusive and enduring marine conservation, which may offer lessons beyond Southeast Asia.
Authors
- Christina Choy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8118-0565)
- Colette C. C. Wabnitz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5076-9163)
- Delianis Pringgenies (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7388-0000)
- Roger G. Dolorosa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3863-3968)
- Andrianus Sembiring (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8139-6083)
- Alvin Chelliah (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3295-9134)
- Li Keat Lee (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1349-2473)
- Abigail Mary Moore (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4122-3740)
- Mei Lin Neo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0141-8164)
- Salai Mon Nyi Nyi Lin
- Yuchen Sun (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9663-9647)
- Teresa Stephanie Tay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6152-819X)
- Hilly Ann Roa‐Quiaoit
- Theresa Su
- Syafyudin Yusuf
- H. R. Samuel Lee
- Jeremiah N C. Requilme
Institutions
- Diponegoro University (ID)
- Udayana University (ID)
- Fauna and Flora International (GB)
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada (CA)
- Stockholm Resilience Centre (SE)
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Stockholm University (SE)
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- Mindanao State University – Iligan Institute of Technology (PH)
- Ocean Institute (US)
- Western Philippines University (PH)
- Palo Alto Institute (US)
- Department of Statistics Malaysia (MY)
- University of the Philippines Diliman (PH)
- Hasanuddin University (ID)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Aquatic Conservation Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems
- Published
- 2026-04-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.70354
- Primary Topic
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Pew Charitable Trusts
- National Research Foundation