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
Investigators return to Long Island home of Gilgo Beach serial killing suspect
MASSAPEQUA PARK, N.Y. (AP) — Investigators returned Monday to the home of a New York architect charg2024-05-21Arsenal back on top of English Premier League after win over Wolves
WOLVERHAMPTON, England (AP) — Arsenal moved back to the top of the English Premier League by beating2024-05-21Drama teacher, 78, at prestigious £51,000
A former drama teacher at £51,000-a-year Winchester College, who is accused of having an inappropria2024-05-21- PARIS (AP) — Rennes coasted past Nantes 3-0 and stayed on track for a European place by moving up to2024-05-21
Jon Wysocki dead at 53: Staind drummer passes away
The music world is in mourning this Sunday, with word that original Staind drummer Jon Wysocki passi2024-05-212 Japanese navy helicopters carrying 8 crew believed crashed in Pacific, Defense Ministry says
TOKYO (AP) — Two Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force helicopters carrying eight crewmembers were be2024-05-21
atest comment