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. |
Croatian parliament approves new gov't headed by incumbent PMPregnant Jenna Dewan puts her bump on display in figureTrump hush money trial: Michael Cohen returns for more questioningChina's AG600 large amphibious aircraft advances toward certificationCeline Dion shares RARE snap with twin sons Nelson and Eddy, 13 and eldest ReneChina overcapacity narrative to impact global recovery, green transition: commerce ministryTrump hush money trial: What we've learned so far and what to watch for as it wraps upMcDonald's unveils budgetKylie Jenner sweetly tears up while enjoying fun motherThe reason WHY Beyonce's hit Cowboy Carter album wasn't nominated at the 2024 ACM Awards