BFAR chief sounds global alarm over coral reef damage due to Chinese reclamation work

The whole world should be concerned over the damage to coral reefs being caused by Chinese reclamation work in disputed territories in the South China Sea, the head of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) said Friday.

At a press briefing in Malacañang, BFAR chief Asis Perez said China's "unfortunate" reclamation work may affect fish reproduction in the entire Pacific Ocean.

"‘Yung pagkasira po kasi ng bahura hindi lang po Pilipinas ang apektado ‘non. Dahil ‘yon pong mga semilya ng isda, ‘yon po ay nagpupunta hindi lang po sa Pilipinas, kundi sa buong West Philippine Sea at lumalabas pa po sa Sulu Sea at pumupunta pa po sa Pasipiko," Perez told reporters.

Citing data from the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute, the BFAR chief said Chinese reclamation work may have damaged 311 hectares of coral reefs.

"Kung doon sa Tubbataha na kalahating area pinapalagay na nating sobrang laki ang daños, e ‘di lalong-lalo na doon sa area 600 times, or even probably more, 700 times that size," Perez said.

He was referring to the coral reef damage caused by an American minesweeper that ran aground at the Tubbataha Reef in 2013. The United States paid P87 million for the damage.

Perez, however, admitted that the BFAR can only campaign against the environmental damage caused by Chinese reclamation work without a final ruling on the arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China.

Recent satellite images showed an airstrip suitable for military use being built by China on reclaimed parts of Kagitingan Reef in the disputed Spratly archipelago.

Beijing is also reportedly undertaking reclamation work on Subu Reef in the Spratlys, creating landmasses that, if joined together, could create space for another 3,000-meter (3,281-yard) airstrip.

On Thursday, veteran marine scientist Edgardo Gomez, founding director of the UP Marine Science Institute, estimated the total value of coral reefs destroyed by Chinese reclamation and construction work at $352,249. —KBK, GMA News