Pioneering novel research in reef restoration and coastal conservation
through innovative marine science practices
Discover how you can help →The International Marine Science and Carbon Sequestration Foundation (IMARCS)
IMARCS is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit conducting research on reef restoration and actively supporting coastal conservation, with inshore mariculture tanks in Japan, field sites in Belize and Micronesia, and a university partnership lab in Spain.
We run three active research programs across those four countries. Previous work on giant clams in the reefs of Vietnam and the Philippines is currently on hold while we line up partner organizations.
At a glance
Three active research programs
Giant clam carbon sequestration in Japan, zooxanthellae transfer to bleached corals in Micronesia and Spain, and mangrove conservation in Belize.
Four countries
Japan, Micronesia, Spain, and Belize.
Seven giant clam species studied
Six Tridacna species (gigas, noae, squamosa, maxima, crocea, derasa) and Hippopus hippopus.
Four mangrove species and five main coral types
Red, black, white, and buttonwood mangroves; staghorn, elkhorn, brain, lettuce, and fan corals.
60 research and stewardship articles published
Plus eight guest articles on external sites including reefs.com, Eco-Business, and six university blogs.
Three podcast appearances to date
With more in the pipeline.
Seven high schools and junior colleges have requested the IMARCS curriculum
It is newly created and not yet deployed, so no students have been taught from it yet.
As published on
Mission
To advance marine conservation, reef resilience, and coastal restoration through hands-on research focused on giant clams, corals, mangroves, and nature-based solutions to remove microplastics and store excess emissions, with measurable results and lasting benefits for local communities.
Vision
A future where marine restoration is practical, measurable, and scalable, with reef organisms, coastal ecosystems, and education programs working together to restore marine environments, positively impact human health, and potentially help adapt to climate change.
Reefs and mangroves are not just the bedrock of ocean ecosystems - they are vital for life on land as well.
We work with incredible people from all over the world to advance marine science and address the core areas of interest for the IMARCS Foundation:
Biodiversity Preservation
Coral reefs are bleaching from changing temperatures, all giant clam species are threatened, and mangroves around the world are under threat from development. One of our main areas of research is focused on how to address these challenges and preserve some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet
Pollutant Removal
Giant clams have shown promise in removing microplastics from the water column, which is a major environmental concern worldwide, and our research seeks to understand their potential role in filtering out these pollutants. Mangroves are also well-equipped to stop microplastics from entering the ocean as they trap them in their root systems, and they are also the best nature-based solution for storing carbon. One other major focus of our research aims to show whether giant clams can provide another quantifiable source of permanent carbon sequestration
Ecosystem Restoration
Our long-term goal is to help reverse coral bleaching, conserve and potentially restore mangrove stands, and re-seed lost habitat ranges for giant clams
Community Enhancement
All our work in preserving biodiversity, restoring ecosystems, removing microplastics, and sequestering carbon is grounded in delivering co-benefits for local communities in associated areas
Three programs, three open questions
1. Can giant clams be made into true carbon sinks? Japan
Under natural conditions, giant clam shell formation is roughly carbon-neutral, because the CO2 released during calcification offsets the carbon taken up. IMARCS is testing whether raising seawater pH above 8.5 tips that balance, allowing carbon released during photosynthesis to be reabsorbed during shell formation. The method is to raise pH in our mariculture tanks and measure carbon and carbonate levels in the water, determining whether the higher pH holds more dissolved CO2 and whether the clams take it up as they build shell. Success would be a proof of concept that under the right conditions giant clams are another nature-based carbon sink, usable at larger scale by interested organizations.
2. Can zooxanthellae from giant clams reverse coral bleaching? Micronesia, Spain
Coral bleaching is caused by the loss of photosynthetic zooxanthellae under thermal stress, and has escalated in frequency and severity over the last four decades. IMARCS is testing whether more thermally tolerant zooxanthellae sourced from giant clams can be transferred to bleached corals to reverse it. Samples collected in Micronesia are analyzed at our University of Barcelona partnership lab at the genomic level, comparing the zooxanthellae of each species to determine whether transfer actually occurred. Success would be showing that clam-derived zooxanthellae improve the thermal tolerance of corals and reverse bleaching, opening a path to scalable mass-bleaching recovery.
Early results, not yet peer reviewed. Bleached corals recovered after Hippopus hippopus mantle tissue was introduced into the water column around them. The recovery was documented photographically. The mechanism has not been confirmed genetically: samples are preserved on FTA cards awaiting sequencing.
3. What does mangrove conservation actually deliver? Belize
Mangroves filter microplastics and pollutants, hold carbon in their root systems, and buffer coastal communities against storm surge. IMARCS is running a field-based quantitative and qualitative study of mangrove conservation in Belize, measuring those effects alongside the benefits to the surrounding community. Success would be preservation of the project area with demonstrated benefits for both the community and the surrounding environment.
Who we work with
University of Barcelona, Spain
Partnership lab for genomic analysis. Dr. Juan Moles and Dr. Vanessa Arranz serve as advisers to IMARCS.
FSM Kosrae giant clam hatchery, Micronesia
Led by Martin Selch. Many of the clams in our Japan tanks originated there.
SMPC, Philippines
Previous partnership on giant clams in reefs.
Stewardship, not passive preservation
We practice stewardship, not pure preservation: wise use, not passive protection. People are part of the natural world, not separate from it, and ecosystems intended to be protected in isolation are still shaped by everything happening around them. Treating conservation as a closed box is not, and never was, realistic.
When a species is farmed and used sustainably, it gains an economic reason to exist, funding to support its recovery, and reduced pressure on wild populations. Use and protection reinforce each other instead of competing.
The Saving NEMO Act (H.R. 2176) would harm reefs rather than protect them
IMARCS filed an official comment in opposition. Read our analysis.
We focus on nature-based solutions for resilience to warming waters
Rather than the causes and effects we cannot control.
Our Founder
"I believe in the power of restoration"
My name is Gui Gui, and I'm from one of the Karen tribes. My family and I had to leave Myanmar as the military there is actively hunting and killing the Karen people, even though we are very peaceful. We escaped to Thailand, where I grew up. Now, I am in Japan, and I'm very happy to have started IMARCS and working with my amazing team!
Learn MoreSupport Us
Make a real difference!
We are a lean research organization, which means your support goes straight to the work, including equipment in our tanks, samples in our lab, and time in the field.
Donations put grow-out systems and life-support gear in our aquariums. They send us into the field for reef transects, eDNA sampling, and habitat surveys. They power the lab analysis that turns samples into data. And they bring reef science to our communities through school tours, education displays, and mangrove and reef partner work.
Support UsFrequently asked questions
What is the IMARCS Foundation?
IMARCS is a US-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit conducting research on reef restoration and actively supporting coastal conservation, with inshore mariculture tanks in Japan, field sites in Belize and Micronesia, and a university partnership lab in Spain.
What does IMARCS stand for?
International Marine Science and Carbon Sequestration.
Which countries is IMARCS currently active in?
Japan, Micronesia, Spain, and Belize. Previous work on giant clams in the reefs of Vietnam and the Philippines is currently on hold while we line up partner organizations.
Can giant clams store carbon?
Under natural conditions, giant clam shell formation is roughly carbon-neutral: the CO2 released during calcification offsets the carbon taken up. IMARCS is testing whether raising seawater pH above 8.5 allows more of that carbon to be locked into the shell, which would make giant clams a true carbon sink. That work is underway and not yet published.
Are giant clams dangerous to humans?
No. The idea of the man-eating clam is a myth. A giant clam's adductor muscles close its shell slowly, and an approached clam retreats into its shell rather than attempting to trap anything.
What happens to the microplastics that clams filter and mangroves trap?
Giant clams remove microplastic particles from the water column, and mangrove root systems trap them before they reach open water. IMARCS scientists are studying how much is captured, where it ends up, and whether it stays there.
How can I support IMARCS?
Donations fund equipment in our tanks, samples in our lab, and time in the field. Individuals can adopt a clam, and organizations can partner with us directly. Support Us.
Are donations to IMARCS tax deductible?
IMARCS is a registered US 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so donations from US supporters are tax deductible.
