Last November 4, a content creator who goes by the name “Raw & Cooked Food Asmr” posted a video eating giant clams.
A user caught sight of the video and pointed out via X (formerly Twitter) that this is highly illegal and depending on the gravity of the offense, this can be punishable by law.
The post reads, “Calling the attention of @DENROfficial. A content creator posted this video eating giant clams. This is illegal. Please take action. The video was already deleted, but it was still up this morning, three days after it was posted.”
Some concerned users joined the conversation and speculated that perhaps the vloggers were not aware of the laws aimed at protecting these endangered creatures.
According to the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, selling giant clams is prohibited under RA 10654, or “An Act to Prevent, Deter, and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing,” which amended RA 8550, or “The Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998.” This can be directed towards whoever sold these clams to the vlogger for consumption.
In addition to that, it also violates RA 9147, or the “Wildlife Resources Conservation and Protection Act.” This act aims to provide conservation, preservation, and protection of wildlife species and their habitats in order to preserve and encourage ecological balance and biological diversity. Furthermore, it regulates and supervises wildlife capture, hunting, and trade.
The giant clam was one of the most endangered clam species in the world back in the day, and they were almost on the verge of extinction if no action had been taken to protect them. This species of clam plays the role of filter feeders, cleaning pollutants from the water as they consume algae or plankton.
As of writing, no statements have been put out by concerning agencies and the content creators .
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