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.
Adams, Reyna, Turner, Ream are US concerns ahead of Copa America
NHS trust made 'number of failures' in treatment of six
The millennials taking over 'pensioner paradises': How 'Down From Londons' and under
Moment twins, 8, hilariously fume after discovering two ice creams will cost them a staggering £9
Ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse has been refloated
'ALL Brits are welcome!' Mayor of Magaluf's message to UK holidaymakers following 'tourism
Scientists discover a NEW weight loss shot that could burn twice as much fat as Ozempic
8 EU members say conditions in Syria should be reassessed to allow voluntary refugee returns
Jessica Biel CHOPS her long locks into a bob after book signing in Studio City
Stock market today: World shares retreat, though China stocks are lifted by new property measures
Bella Hadid goes braless in a thigh
It's not a rock, it's the Athens Rock Lobsters. New minor league team honors B