World News

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.

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.

"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.

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

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.

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.

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

Any other sources? Not reported anywhere else.

Since the practice of cyanide fishing was never widely publicised or officially approved, its origins are uncertain; but it is believed to have originated in the 1950s in the Philippines.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) determined that approximately 20% of the live fish traded on the Philippine market in 1996 were caught using cyanide

Estimates suggest 70% to 90% of aquarium fish exported from the Philippines are caught with cyanide.

The Philippines when they use cyanide fishing in Southeast Asia: don't worry guys, it's a perfectly safe and normal activity and contributes to the economy.

The Philippines when someone else uses cyanide fishing in Southeast Asia: horrible! Environmental catastrophe! Condemn them!