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Philippines busts haul of giant clam shells

The Philippine authorities have seized 336 giant clam shell pieces buried in the shorelines of Bugsuk island in Palawan province.
Hanoi (VNA) – The Philippine authorities have seized 336 giant clam shell pieces buriedin the shorelines of Bugsuk island in Palawan province.

The pieces are worth about 8.1 million PHP (145,000 USD).

As reported by AFP, Jovic Fabello, a spokesman for the Palawan Council forSustainable Development, said the shell trade has become a substitute for theivory trade following widespread bans on the trade of elephant tusks.

Giant clams, including Tridacna gigas, which may grow to 1.5metres in diameter and weigh more than 200 kilogrammes, are a protected speciesin the Philippines. They play a key role as food, shelter and building blocksin coral reef ecosystems where fish populations spawn.

A study released last year by the group Traffic, whichmonitors the illegal global trade of protected species, found the Philippinesseized more than 121,000 tonnes of giant clams between 2003 and 2022,accounting for 99.8% of giant clams seized in trafficking incidents inSoutheast Asia during that time./.

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# Philippines #giant clam shells #Bugsuk island #Palawan #Jovic Fabello #Giant clams #vietnam news agency #vietnamplus Philippines
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