Chinese Fishermen Continue Giant Clam Harvest In Panatag Shoal
CHINESE – A Filipino fisherman revealed that Chinese fishermen continue harvesting giant clams in Panatag Shoal.
The Philippine government is planning to take legal actions against China for allegedly extracting giant clams from the West Philippine Sea.
A Filipino fisherman said they only catch few fishes on the area because of the murky water.
In a previous article, the PH authorities seized a massive number of giant clams in Davao Del Norte in May 2019.
The giant clams that they found on the area weigh around 40,000 kgs. They believed that the clams were extracted somewhere.
Republic Act 10654 or the “Philippine Fisheries Code” seeks to prevent collecting, buying and selling giant clams. These species are among the vulnerable species meaning it should be preserved.
Based on a report from Inquirer, a vessel owned by China continue to harvest clam in Panatag Shoal.
The maritime officials of the Philippines have already protested on the issue of the vulnerable sea creatures.
According to the report, a fisherman from Infanta town, Pangasinan province named Yoyoy Rizol said the Chinese fishermen should be stopped or the clams will soon be decimated.
Rizol said the Chinese fishermen utilize propellers mounted on their small boats to split the coral and dig at Panatag Shoal for clams. The creatures are later carried on a larger ship.
Based on the report, the fisherman said the Chinese fishermen have been digging for clams at Panatag Shoal in 2003.
The director of the University of the Philippines Institute for Marine Affairs and Law of the Sea, Jay Batongbacal, said the Chinese sell the clams at Hainan Province. The giant clams are carved into figurines.
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