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:
Related suggestion:
Chinese president appoints new ambassadorsWisconsin Republicans ignore governor's call to spend $125M to combat soAnya TaylorOlivia Williams opens up on 'harrowing' experience as guest star on season four finale of FriendsWisconsin Republicans ignore governor's call to spend $125M to combat soChina ready to work with neighboring countries to expand convergence of interests: spokespersonFour dead in southwest China forest firesAnya TaylorSouth Africa's former president Zuma survives road crashChanging course, Florida prosecutor suspended by DeSantis to seek reelection
3.0315s , 6499.28125 kb
Copyright © 2024 Powered by Philippines blames China for loss of giant clams in disputed shoal and urges environmental inquiry ,World Window news portal