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.
'Constantly learning' Imanaga off to impressive start with the Chicago Cubs
China ready to strengthen high
Sri Lanka expresses hope to join BRICS+
Emily Henry interview: The secret to having a healthy relationship with love
Bella Hadid goes braless in a thigh
Emily Henry interview: The secret to having a healthy relationship with love
British and Irish officials meet as tensions rise over what to do with asylum seekers
At least 40 people die in Kenya after dam collapses
Georgia Republicans choose Amy Kremer, organizer of pro
China's NEVs powering up to lead global sustainability charge