How a Chinese vessel damaged decades of coral near Pag-asa Island 

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The affected reef, which took decades to grow, supported various marine species, including clownfish, shrimp, and coral polyps

PALAWAN, Philippines – What took nature decades to grow was destroyed quickly – not by explosives, but by something quieter, more precise, and possibly deliberate.

In early June, a Chinese fishing vessel with bow number 16868 dropped a parachute anchor at a depth of nine meters, about 2.6 kilometers east of Pag-asa Cay 1 in the Kalayaan Island Group, within the West Philippine Sea.

It damaged at least 464 square meters of living coral reef, worth an estimated P11.1 million, according to the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development (PCSD). Officials said the incident showed ongoing threats to marine ecosystems and growing concerns over repeated intrusions in Philippine waters.

FINDINGS. Philippine Coast Guard West Philippine Sea spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela speaks during a press conference with PCSD’s Mark Ace dela Cruz and National Security Council Assistant Director General Cornelio Valencia Jr., presenting official findings on coral damage at Escoda Shoal.

Initial reports from the PCSD described the event as a grounding. But upon inspection, marine biologists from PCSD, Western Philippines University (WPU), the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the National Task Force for the West Philippine Sea (NTF-WPS) found no signs of hull impact.

“There were no scrapes, no trenches, no impact zones,” said Mark Ace dela Cruz, chair of PCSD’s Habitat Management Section. “Instead, we observed fragments, soft and hard corals crushed in a pattern consistent with dragging, not impact.”

Officials identified a parachute anchor as the cause. Commonly used to slow vessel drift in open water, the anchor damaged 307 square meters of coral directly. The remaining damage was attributed to drag and pressure effects, according to the PCSD.

PCSD said the affected reef, which took decades to grow, supported various marine species, including clownfish, shrimp, and coral polyps.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority estimate that large reef-building corals grow at about 1 to 3 centimeters per year, depending on environmental conditions. 

“This has implications for our fishermen who rely on these waters,” said Dr. Benjamin Gonzales, lead scientist on the site inspection. “If there are no corals, there are no fish. And if there are no fish, then how do we justify the continued deployment of agencies like BFAR (Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources) in these territories?”

PCSD said this was not the first incident involving environmental damage by foreign vessels in Philippine waters, but it is among the few documented in detail.

“This wasn’t a fishing vessel by function. It was a militia vessel with a fishing facade. What we’re seeing is not random. We’re seeing deliberate sabotage masked as maritime accidents,” said Ferdinand Zaballa, PCSD vice chair.

Zaballa said Chinese vessels frequently anchor illegally, damage reefs, discard waste, and exit before enforcement can act.

Major General Cornelio Valencia Jr., assistant director general of the National Security Council, said the damage occurred amid heightened activity by Chinese Maritime Militia and China Coast Guard vessels in waters near Pag-asa Island.

He credited local fishers for reporting the Chinese vessel’s presence and said the NTF-WPS supports reef rehabilitation and accountability efforts.

PCSD recommended imposing an P11.1-million fine, but no formal charges or diplomatic protests have been filed.

Commodore Jay Tarriela, spokesperson for the Philippine Coast Guard, said the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) are responsible for pursuing accountability. The DFA and DOJ, however, have not released statements on the incident. 

Despite its civilian population, military outpost, and local government, Pag-asa Island remains exposed to frequent low-level intrusions by foreign vessels.

The coral reef destruction showed ongoing risks to Philippine marine territory and food security.

Marine biologists estimate the reef destroyed in the incident took 40 to 50 years to form. That habitat is now gone, and the parachute anchor remains lodged on the seabed and has not been retrieved.

With typhoon season approaching, PCSD warned that strong currents could move the anchor and increase the area of damage.

Previous incidents involving foreign encroachments have drawn limited official response, often ending without charges or diplomatic action.

Pag-asa Island, home to civilians and a military outpost, is often cited as a symbol of Philippine sovereignty. But the reef destruction showed the limits of policy enforcement and environmental protection.

The parachute anchor remains in place, too heavy to retrieve. PCSD said the parachute anchor, made of synthetic polymers, remains in place and is breaking down underwater, releasing microplastics into the marine ecosystem.

No confrontation occurred, but the ecological, economic, and territorial damage continues. – Rappler.com