{"id":1326,"date":"2026-06-21T12:24:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-21T12:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/palau\/?p=1326"},"modified":"2026-06-21T12:24:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-21T12:24:15","slug":"day-4-searching-for-sea-cucumbers-clam-drop-off-drive-through","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.oregonstate.edu\/palau\/2026\/06\/21\/day-4-searching-for-sea-cucumbers-clam-drop-off-drive-through\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 4: Searching for Sea Cucumbers & Clam Drop Off Drive Through"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today was our second full day at Ebiil. Our group started the morning split off in two groups: one with a task to snorkel for retrival of giant clams, and the other paddle boarding off shore of Ollei on the search for sea cucumbers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A dozen freshly blown up paddle boards coming up!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Clam Catchers Team 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Giant clam group ventured off by boat to the giant clam farm to pick up some young clams for relocation. It was pretty cloudy today and the wind picked up so it was a fun and bumpy ride. Once we got to the right place we saw several patches of netting in the water. These were the underwater clam gardens that were protected by the fencing and netting. Within the gardens, there were many clams of varying size and color, completely covering the sea floor. The Palauan women who cared for the gardens easily picked out young clams for us and moved effortlessly in the choppy waters with years of experience. We collected around 100 young giant clams, taking some from each garden and swimming them over to the boat and collecting them in blue barrels. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Clam Collection Team: Boating to the clams<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Paige with clam.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Bailey with clam<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n