When visiting the Northeast, hunting down a creamy bowl of clam chowder is a must. It's one of the region's defining dishes, alongside lobster rolls and crab cakes, and is the ultimate comfort food.

The giant clam (Tridacna gigas) is critically endangered, with its population falling by over 80% in the last century, largely due to overfishing and climate change. Credit: Ruiqi Li/CU Boulder Giant ...