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.
French sports minister calls for sanctions after Monaco player tapes over anti
Rainfall allows Spain's Catalonia to ease water restrictions for 1st time during drought
Demi Lovato dazzles in metallic Prabal Gurung gown at 2024 Met Gala
Former head of one of China's top state
After special teams play keyed Rangers' series
Belarus launches nuclear drills a day after Russia announces them, with Ukraine in mind
Prince Harry celebrates Invictus Games in London but won't see his father, King Charles III
Celebrity birthdays for the week of May 26
Sparks move home game against Caitlin Clark and Indiana from Long Beach to downtown Los Angeles
Cruise worker 'murders newborn son on board ship': Shocked co
Badosa shows signs of her old form in a win over Andreeva at the Italian Open