Marine scientists found depressions or sunken areas that appear to be man-made on the ocean floor of Escoda Shoal, also called Sabina Shoal, that led to a “local extinction” of corals in the area in the West Philippine Sea.
Jonathan Anticamara of the University of the Philippines Institute of Biology said the depressions were “a little bit deeper” and appeared to have been formed through “not a natural process.” and someone might have excavated the ocean floor for sampling purposes, usually of corals.
“That’s not a natural process. That kind of excavation was a little bit deeper – they took corals from the ocean floor. So, I think that’s really man-made,” he said during a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday.
“[It’s] a little bit worrying because of the extensive damage of corals under water,” Anticamara said.
He said some Chinese divers were spotted earlier by the Philippine Coast Guard in the area.
“So, what happened to Sabina Shoal is kind of disastrous because many of the foundation species, we call them corals or habitat-forming species, are completely dead in the shallow waters,” he said.
“This is really like local extinction. This is what we’re talking about now – which is the biggest problem humanity is facing – biodiversity loss,” he added.
Anticamara’s evaluation followed a two-day scientific mission carried out with the PCG on Tuesday and Wednesday to assess the condition of the corals in the region.
However, Anticamara stopped short at confirming there was reclamation activity in Escoda Shoal.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin earlier denied the reclamation activity, calling it a “sheer rumor.”
Dr. Fernando Siringan, a professor at the UP Marine Science Institute, said the dead corals could be used to build islands.
The Philippines is currently preparing an environmental case against China over the maritime destruction in the West Philippine Sea.
Justice Secretary Jesus Remulla first broached the idea of filing a case against China in September 2023 after the Armed Forces of the Philippines Western Command confirmed there were cases of massive coral harvesting along Rozul (Iroquois) Reef in the WPS.
Retired Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio also urged the Philippine government to sue China anew over the destruction of Escoda Shoal and Rozul Reef, which he said are within the Philippines’ EEZ.
