Following the suspicion of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that China was the one responsible for harvesting the corals of Rozul Reef, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, Commodore Jay Tarriela confirmed this on Monday, adding that another West Philippine Sea feature Escoda Shoal is now dead due to coral harvesting and seabed devastation.
Tarriela, who has been fearless in hitting China for its bullying and dangerous maneuvering against PCG operatives in the WPS, pinpointed the Chinese Maritime Militia that has been swarming in Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal, are the ones responsible for the devastation of the said features.
“From 09 August 2023 to 11 September 2023, PCG monitored an average presence of approximately Thirty-three (33) CMM vessels at vicinity Rozul Reef and Fifteen (15) CMM vessels in Escoda Shoal. Maritime patrols carried out during the same period by BRP SINDANGAN (MRRV 4407) and BRP CABRA (MRRV 4409) further validated the presence of these CMMs in these West Philippine Sea features,” he said in a statement on Monday.
Tarriela noted that during the same period, the PCG launched missions to conduct extensive underwater surveys of the seabed in both Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal.
“The results of these surveys showed that the marine ecosystem in the subject WPS features appeared lifeless, with minimal to no signs of life. Moreover, the surveys conducted in Escoda Shoal revealed visible discoloration of its seabed, strongly indicating that deliberate activities may have been undertaken to modify the natural topography of its underwater terrain,” he said,
confirming the report released by the AFP Western Command last week.
Further, he said the presence of crushed corals strongly suggests a potential act of dumping, possibly involving the same dead corals that were previously processed and cleaned before being returned to the seabed.
“The continued swarming for indiscriminate illegal and destructive fishing activities of the Chinese Maritime Militia in Rozul Reef and Escoda Shoal may have directly caused the degradation and destruction of the marine environment in the WPS features. The PCG emphasizes the importance of protecting and preserving our marine environment, which plays a crucial role in sustaining marine life and supporting local communities,” according to Tarriela.