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.
A warrant for Netanyahu’s arrest was requested. But no decision was made about whether to issue it
Yemeni Businessman Serves as Cultural Ambassador on New Silk Road
Parents Good Example of Filial Piety
Chinese Martial Arts Gain Popularity Overseas
Shooting injures 2 at Missouri high school graduation ceremony
Helping Women Play Greater Roles in Promoting Social Development
Virtues 'Cultivate' Family Members into Better People
Forming Bond with China Through Architectural Design
Rangers are undefeated at .500 to keep World Series champs from a losing record with Bochy
Using Fingertips to Create Happiness
Siblings trying to make US water polo teams for Paris Olympics
Pluck and Moxie! Trailblazer Dedicated to Saving Lives During Emergencies