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
'The Apprentice,' about a young Donald Trump, premieres in Cannes
CANNES, France (AP) — While Donald Trump’s hush money trial entered its sixth week in New York, an o2024-05-21Ramón Fonseca, partner in firm at center of "Panama Papers" scandal, dies
Ramón Fonseca, a partner in the Mossack Fonseca law firm at the center of the “Panama Papers” scanda2024-05-21A Ukrainian gymnast carried the Paris Olympic torch with an EU team, in a sign of support
MARSEILLE, France (AP) — Ukrainian gymnast Mariia Vysochanska led a group of European athletes carry2024-05-21Proud Lionness! Mary Earps beams as she's honoured by William
Lionness Mary Earps was today honoured by Prince William at Windsor Castle for her services to assoc2024-05-21Kate Hudson hits the stage to debut songs from her new album Glorious at star
Kate Hudson looked like a pro as she performed songs from her new album Glorious for the first time.2024-05-21Ministers vow to end civil service 'merry go round of mediocrity' by making it easier to sack under
Cabinet Office minister John Glen today vowed to end Whitehall's 'merry go round of mediocrity' as h2024-05-21
atest comment