It’s no use planting a flag in a dead place.
Stormy Waters
Situation in the South China Sea escalates after the Philippines claims Chinese fishermen are deliberately using cyanide to destroy Scarborough Shoal, a tropical atoll that represents hotly contested territory between the two countries. are doing. philippine star I will report it.
The Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), which filed the complaint on Saturday, said damages caused by the Chinese fishing vessels could exceed $17.8 million, the news agency reported.
“These Chinese fishermen are using cyanide,” BFAR spokesperson Nazario Brighella said at a press conference attended by the country’s fishermen. Star. ”[T]Hey, intentionally destroy Bajo de Masinloc. [the Spanish name for the shoal] This is to prevent Philippine fishing boats from operating in the area. ”
Add wrinkles to the story, GMA News The Philippine Coast Guard itself reports that it is not sure who is responsible for cyanide use in the area.
“There is no scientific research or evidence to suggest that the cyanide fishing in Bajo de Masinloc is by Chinese or Vietnamese fishermen,” said Brigadier General Jay Tarriera of the Philippine Coast Guard.MA News.
fish kill
Scarborough Shoal is an atoll approximately 194 miles from the Philippines where 275,520 tons of fish are caught annually, providing food and money to an estimated 385,300 people.
There are two reasons why it has emerged as a geopolitical flashpoint. First of all, this atoll is rich in aquatic life and has abundant fishing resources. And secondly, there is an inner lagoon that can protect vessels in stormy weather, making it an ideal resting place for boats.
Cyanide fishing has been used by Philippine fishermen in the past to stun or kill fish, and is an easy way to obtain the daily catch, but this method is also being used in the Philippines due to destructive fishing methods. Destroying endangered coral reefs. Methods and climate change.
“Every square meter of coral reef is destroyed for every live fish caught using cyanide,” Sam Mamauag, a biologist with the International Marine Alliance (IMA) in the Philippines, told the World Wildlife Fund.
The conflict over Scarborough Shoal has been going on for years and we hope that if cyanide fishing is taking place it will be stopped immediately. It’s no use planting a flag in a dead place.
Learn more about ocean pollution: Oil spill spills into the Gulf of Mexico