Abstract

• The Pacific clam, Asaphis violascens (Forsskal, 1775), locally known as "Gin-Phyu," is a benthic bivalve species native to the Indo-Pacific region. This study demonstrated the potential for aquaculture by successfully breeding the Pacific clam from its embryonic and larval stages to the juvenile stage in a laboratory. While the clams are currently a low-priced seafood, which may limit commercial-scale culture, their production from natural habitats is mainly for local consumption. By studying the clam's life cycle through laboratory culture, we gained insights into its population dispersion and optimum environmental parameters. This culture practice can be used in the future to enhance its abundance in natural beds. The primary objective of this research was to establish suitable rearing conditions for induced spawning, larviculture, and grow-out culture. In this study, adult, mature clams were collected from the sandy beaches of Doris Island. Induced spawning was attempted using emersion and thermal shock methods. Larvae rearing and grow-out culture were investigated in a hatchery setting. Eight species of microalgae (Chaetoceros simplex I & II, Chaetoceros calcitrans, Chaetoceros ceratosporum, Chaetoceros gracilis I & II, Nannochloropsis oculata, and Tetraselmis suecica) were used as food. A sand substrate was found to be essential for the grow-out culture of post-larval clams to reach the adult stage.