Marine scientist pegs losses from China’s reclamation activities at $350k

A veteran marine scientist on Thursday pegged to at least $350,000 the total value of coral reefs destroyed in the ongoing reclamation works of China in the disputed West Philippine Sea.

In his study entitled "Physical Destruction of Coral Reef Ecosystems and Overexploitation of Endangered Species: Compromising Biodiversity and Economic Productivity," Prof. Edgardo Gomez claimed that as of March this year, 311 hectares of coral reefs were destroyed in the course of China's reclamation work.

Gomez, founding director of the University of the Philippines-Marine Science Institute, said the March 2015 figure was a "very conservative" estimate because the recent dredging activities of China on Mischief Reef (Panganiban Reef) is not yet included in his study.

"Very conservative pa yang figure na yan. Tumataas pa yan bawat araw... as dredging activities are ongoing," Gomez said.

Gomez said the total economic value of the destroyed coral reefs as of last March could amount to $352,249.

He said this figure translates to a total of $108.9 million annual economic losses to the countries who have claims in South China Sea.

"We are really losing something because of this reclamation works. It is not just an ordinary pile of sand that is getting destroyed. Itong reef na ito ay tahanan ng mga isda and other marine species. So, the whole marine ecosystem is getting affected," Gomez said.

Gomez said that aside from the construction of military bases in South China Sea, poaching of giant clam shells, corals and other marine species by Chinese fishing vessels "has repeatedly caused damage to the area's ecological balance."

He said the shells that China are illegally harvesting in the disputed area are being brought to mainland China, particularly in Hainan province where they are processed and sold as various coral crafts, shell jewelry, mounted shell carvings and good luck charms.

"Healthy coral reefs in the West Philippine Sea are very important not only to us but also to the productivity of neighboring marginal seas made possible through larval connectivity," Gomez said.

Gomez said that with the magnitude of destruction already brought by China's reclamation works to the coral reefs in the disputed region, it would take about a million of years for the reefs to recuperate into a healthy state.

"It would take millennia. A coral reef takes a very long time to heal," Gomez said.

Armed Forces chief General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. earlier revealed that China is doing reclamation works on seven reefs in the South China Sea, three of which are within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone

Aside from China and the Philippines, other countries who have claims in the disputed region are Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. — LBG/RSJ/KBK/TJD, GMA News