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
Elon Musk gets approval from FDA to implant his Neuralink brain chip into a second patient
Elon Musk’s Neuralink has been given a green light to implant its brain chip in a second patient aft2024-05-21Michael Irvin 'out at NFL Network' as ex
Michael Irvin is reportedly out at NFL Network after 15 years with the league-owned TV channel.Irvin2024-05-21Doctor Who new series sees rising star Josie Sedgwick
As Rufus Sewell proved playing Prince Andrew in Scoop, prosthetic make-up can do wonders for an acto2024-05-21Gausman tosses 5 1/3 scoreless innings, Kiermaier homers and Blue Jays beat Nationals 6
WASHINGTON (AP) — Kevin Gausman pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings, Kevin Kiermaier hit a two-run homer2024-05-21Kevin Pillar gets 1,000th career hit in Angels' win at Texas
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Kevin Pillar tucked a keepsake ball into his bag from his 1,000th career hit2024-05-21Las Vegas Aces further solidify roster beyond this season by signing All
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — All-Star guard Jackie Young signed a contract extension through 2025 with the2024-05-21
atest comment