Tikab, or scallops, are native marine mollusks found in sandy or gravelly seabeds, especially around Barangay Asluman in Gigantes Carles. They have fan-shaped shells in various colors and can swim short distances by quickly opening and closing their shells to escape predators. Scallops are an important food source and a key part of the local economy. The community celebrates their cultural connection to scallops through the Tikab Festival and crafts made from their shells. However, threats like red tide, overharvesting, and weak regulation endanger the scallop population. To protect this resource, local laws limit harvesting to scallops at least two ...