On remote coral islands in the tropical Pacific, a race is underway to breed endangered giant clams and save them from extinction. Part plant, part animal, powered by the sun, these reef-dwelling molluscs bend the rules of biology, producing edible protein with astonishing efficiency. Harvested since prehistoric times for their meat and shells, today they face new threats from poachers and growing populations. Marine farming, or mariculture, is making a difference. Here Gerald Heslinga, the father of giant clam farming, explains where it began, why it matters, and how it is being achieved, amid piracy and political strife, in settings both wild and beautiful.