@article{Tisdell:206547,
      recid = {206547},
      author = {Tisdell, Clem},
      title = {A Report on the Test Marketing of Giant Clams as Aquarium  Specimens in Brisbane, Australia},
      address = {1991-11},
      number = {1743-2016-140774},
      series = {Research Reports in the Economics of Giant Clam  Mariculture},
      pages = {50},
      year = {1991},
      abstract = {Reports on the results of research based on the  test-marketing of giant clams as aquarium specimens in  Brisbane, Australia, in the third-quarter of 1991. Giant  clams were distributed through six cooperating retail  aquarium outlets and sold at a reasonable commercial price.  This was considered to be $10 – 13 for T. crocea of 2.5 -  5cm (1 – 2") in size. Clams were supplied free of charge to  cooperating retailers. In return they were required to  complete survey forms and to try and ensure that purchasers  of their clams did likewise, and to take care of the clams  in their possession.
The results indicate that giant clams  are rated as very good aquarium specimens and in that  respect were considered to be about as equally desirable as  coral and anemones. The most desired size of clams was  considered to be in the range 5 – 10cm (2 – 4") and  purchasers on average thought that a price of around $19  would be reasonable for such clams, even though retailers  suggested a slightly lower price.
The margin of mark-up  available to retailers in Queensland for sales of giant  clam aquarium specimens in the size range 2.5 – 5cm seems  quite low, particularly given the cost of the permit  required from the Queensland Department of Primary  Industries. The permit and regulations enforced by the  Queensland Department of Primary Industries are a major  impediment to the development of the aquarium market in  Queensland for giant clams. Apart from the expense involved  for the retailer, purchasers are also required to hold  permits from this Department. This places a major dampener  on sales in Queensland given that permits must be obtained  in advance by potential purchasers. Although commercial  farming of clams exists in Queensland, farmers find it  easier to export their products rather than to attempt to  sell them in Queensland.
This report also provides  information about a number of other issues affecting the  market for giant clams as aquarium specimens e.g.  availability of information on keeping them in home  aquariums, characteristics of purchasers and so on. The  results also indicate that the Australian market for giant  clams as aquarium specimens is about 5,000 per year. This  is a similar estimate to that made in 1989 on the basis of  a different survey.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/206547},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.206547},
}