Philippines blames China for loss of giant clams in disputed shoal and urges environmental inquiry
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines blamed Chinese fishermen on Monday for a massive loss of giant clams in a disputed shoal controlled by China’s coast guard in the South China Sea and urged an international inquiry into the amount of environmental damage in the area.
The Philippine coast guard presented surveillance photographs of Chinese fishermen harvesting large numbers of giant clams for a number of years in a lagoon at Scarborough Shoal, but said signs of such activities stopped in March 2019.
Parts of the surrounding coral appeared to be badly scarred, in what the coast guard said was apparently a futile search by the Chinese for more clams. The lagoon is a prominent fishing area which Filipinos call Bajo de Masinloc and the Chinese calll Huangyan Dao off the northwestern Philippines.
“Those were the last remaining giant clams that we saw in Bajo de Masinloc,” Philippine coast guard spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said at a news conference.
Related articles
Revealed: Brit tourist, 19, subjected to sex attack in Majorca 'was gang
A 19-year-old British tourist who was subjected to a horrific sex attack in Majorca 'was gang-raped2024-05-21- She's come a long way since she was a 'suitcase girl' on Deal or No Deal.We certainly saw a differen2024-05-21
New debt deal reveals US addiction to war
By Tian Yi (People's Daily Online) 09:30, June 14, 2023U.S. President Biden signed the Fiscal Respon2024-05-21Griezmann scores 2 as Atletico Madrid beats Girona 3
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Antoine Griezmann scored twice as Atletico Madrid beat Girona 3-1 on Saturda2024-05-21Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf is spotted on the streets of Gavin and Stacey's hometown Barry
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf has shocked onlookers after being spotted on the streets of Barry in Wal2024-05-21Commentary: Honduras made the right decision on ties with Beijing
(Xinhua) 13:14, March 27, 2023BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- Honduras signed on Sunday a joint commun2024-05-21
atest comment