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.
Israel and Iran's apparent strikes give new insights into both militaries
Miami Heat fans are SLAMMED by Kendrick Perkins for leaving 'too many' empty seats for crucial play
Taylor Swift's winning streak continues as she breaks record for most pre
Kate Hudson hits the stage to debut songs from her new album Glorious at star
U.S. stocks end mixed ahead of inflation data
California is rolling out free preschool. That hasn't solved challenges around child care
Mrs Hinch gives her dog Henry a spa session
Ryan Reynolds says Michael J. Fox helped his late father James 'feel less alone' in his 20