Pinoy fishermen decry Chinese destruction of Scarborough coral reefs

Pinoy fishermen expressed outrage over what has become of once-vibrant reefs in Scarborough Shoal because of Chinese activities in the area.

In an episode of Reporter's Notebook aired on Thursday, fisherman Delfin Egana said Chinese boats on the hunt for giant clams have been using machinery to mine the reefs.

"May parang tatlong elisi na may makina tapos itutok lang yung tatlong elisi na yun sa barko, mahuhukay nila kahit na gaano kalaking bato," he said. 

Another fisherman said: "Pinagkukuha nila yung mga clams na nakadikit na sa bato. Binubungkal nila kaya hindi na gaanong papasok yung isda kasi sira-sira na yung mga corals eh."

"Kakaunti na lang 'yung isda na ma-ano mong isda. Lumayo din 'yung isda, lumalim," he added.

The fishermen said they could not fill their boats after three days of fishing like they used to.

The undersea footage of the destroyed reef was shown to the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI), who also raised concern over harsh methods of fishing.

"Sa area na durog na 'yung corals, wala masyadong isda. Siguro, at least, yung doon sa footage, mga one square kilometer. So malaki 'yan," research professor Dr. Porfirio Aliño said.

"It can be can be caused by, for example, storm damage and also human activities like collection of clams. It can also be caused by blast fishing," he added.

"Yung isang study, it might take four decades (bago bumalik)."

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, the chairman of the National Task Force on the West Philippine Sea, confirmed that Chinese fishermen were behind the destruction of the corals.

"Ipaparating ulit natin 'yan. Kung alam natin 'yung mga taklobo na 'yan, nangyayari, gusto kong magkaroon ng documentation," he said. —Margaret Claire Layug/JST, GMA News