• This is fine🔥🐶☕🔥@lemmy.worldOP
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    10 months ago

    The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) revealed that Chinese fisherfolk have been using the deadly chemical compound cyanide to damage Bajo de Masinloc — a body of water also known as the Scarborough Shoal.

    BFAR spokesperson Nazario Briguera had this to say about the said traditional fishing grounds, an area claimed by the People’s Republic of China even if it’s well within the West Philippine Sea.

    “These Chinese fishermen use cyanide,” said Briguera in Filipino during a Saturday News Forum press conference held in Quezon City.

    “[T]hey intentionally destroy Bajo de Masinloc to prevent Filipino fishing boats to fish in the area.”

    Briguera estimated that the damages caused by the cynanide fishing could exceed P1 billion. However, the BFAR has yet to conduct a formal study on the matter.

    The West Philippine Sea lies within the 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of the Philippines, a claim already backed by the Permanent Court of Arbitration way back in 2016.

    BFAR said that this is a “serious concern,” especially since it could also kill off developing fish larvae and corals.

    According to data from the governent, around 385,300 rely on the West Philippine Sea for their livelihood. They catch around 275,520 metric tons of fish each year, which is equivalent to 6% to 7% of the country’s fisheries sector.

    “[The use of cyanide beyond their EEZ is a] clear case of illegal, unreported and undocumented fishing,” Briguera said.

    • A_A@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      So, it’s not Scarborough, UK. Of course that would have been really surprising. Thanks for this summary, ideally it should be in the body of the post.

  • Stamets@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    As someone who lives in the Greater Toronto Area, a place with a city called Scarborough in it, I was extremely confused and extremely terrified for way longer than I needed to be.

    No idea there was a shoal out there called Scarborough as well.

    That being said, I can’t say I’m surprised Chinas reaction here is to salt the earth they can’t have.

    • theinspectorst@kbin.social
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      10 months ago

      I was similarly pretty confused here that it was referring to the little seaside town in Yorkshire, which I assume all these other Scarboroughs (that I too had never heard of) are named after.

      • dubyakay@lemmy.ca
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        10 months ago

        I genuinely thought your first picture would be Scarborough, ON based on the thumbnail. Your second picture is not Scarborough, ON. This is Scarborough, ON:

        Note: you can see the core from your second image in the distance on the left.

  • megane-kun@lemm.ee
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    10 months ago

    “If I can’t have you, no one will.” – China, apparently.

    And as usual, no one will do something decisive about it because China is a huge bully and is using its reputation as the world’s factory and its economic heft to intimidate anyone who thinks of doing anything about it.

    • This is fine🔥🐶☕🔥@lemmy.worldOP
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      10 months ago

      China is a huge bully and is using its reputation as the world’s factory and its economic heft

      Funded by Western capitalists for the last 30 years in their never-ending greed for profits.

      Should’ve kept manufacturing in their own countries, but no. Paying their workers well means less profits.

      • nickwitha_k (he/him)@lemmy.sdf.org
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        10 months ago

        Funded by Western capitalists for the last 30 years in their never-ending greed for profits.

        Oddly, it’s less this and more hatred of unions and workers’ rights. They could make even more money from people who are able to afford luxuries.

  • Quokka@quokk.au
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    10 months ago

    Oh great now they’re deliberately poisoning the oceans as well.

  • Flumpkin@slrpnk.net
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    10 months ago

    Are they insane? This is not just cruel and disgusting, it’s also incredibly stupid. This will seriously damage their reputation among other nations.

    Damaging another nations food supply is a crime against humanity.

      • Flumpkin@slrpnk.net
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        10 months ago

        Not sure if crimes against humanity can be brought before the ICJ since this can’t really be construed as a genocide. But I’m sure this is going to get amplified by the US media soon and will harm China geopolitically.

        I’d want their coastguard to arrest the fisherman and charge them with terrorism using chemical warfare. But that might be a bad idea lol.

        • This is fine🔥🐶☕🔥@lemmy.worldOP
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          10 months ago

          Bro, USA didn’t give a fuck about their own corporations shitting all over the environment. Or when Bolsonaro raped the Amazon, which is right in USA’s backyard. Goodluck with expecting US media to care about the environment.

  • Skua@kbin.social
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    10 months ago

    Are you going to Scarborough Shoal?
    Motor oil, nets, and cyanide
    It’s not the home to a single soul
    Not since all the poisoned fish died

  • BreakDecks@lemmy.ml
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    10 months ago

    A lot of sensationalism here around the use of cyanide. This is a real (but ecologically damaging) way to fish: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyanide_fishing

    The accusation is that Chinese fishing vessels are illegally and maliciously doing this around Scarborough, substantially hurting the local fishing industry.

    This is awful, but it’s not the mass-poisoning of the food supply as this article is inviting you to conclude that it is.