The Philippines is made up of more than 7,000 islands and is rich in marine resources. Xiaobian once wrote about the world's largest natural pearl found in the Philippines.
The 34-kilogram giant natural pearl, discovered by a fisherman on the Philippine island of Palawan, is estimated to be worth $100 million.
After talking about the largest pearl, let's talk about the world's most expensive and rarest shell found in the Philippines. (See figure below)
The 4.8-inch (12.192 cm) shell belongs to Conus gloriamaris, commonly known as the Glory of the Sea Snail, a species of sea snail that usually inhabits the pacific and Indian Oceans. The Glory of the Sea snail has long been the most expensive shell in the world. Discovered in its natural habitat in 1969, the shell of this poisonous gastropod is worth thousands of dollars and is generally only found in museums or wealthy private collectors.
< h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > is it also illegal to pick up a shell in the Philippines? </h1>
Many friends have heard that thousands of dollars of shells can be picked up on the beaches in the Philippines, are they already eager to try? Planning to try your luck?
The Philippines does have a lot of very rare, very beautiful shells. When many people come to the beach, they like to take a walk and pick up shells along the seashore. There are also small traders on the beaches of the Philippines who specialize in selling shells to tourists. Tourists who see such beautiful shells often can't help but buy a few and bring them back to China as souvenirs.
But you may not know that it may be illegal to buy or take away these beautiful shells, and you may face a huge fine or imprisonment if you are not careful.
Collecting shells, which seems to be a harmless act, actually has a great impact on the ecological balance of the ocean. Philippine law protects some shells.
Philippine Fisheries Executive Order No. 208 issued in 2001 stipulates that the collection or capture of rare, threatened and endangered species for the protection of rare, threatened and endangered species may be punishable by imprisonment for up to 20 years or a fine of up to 120,000 pesos, or both, except for scientific research purposes.
Although this law in the Philippines is a legal protection for some of the shells, as ordinary tourists, they lack the ability to distinguish, and if they accidentally pick up the shells of rare and endangered species, they may face fines and imprisonment.
A green trade organization in Cebu, a prominent tourist city in the Philippines, edited a poster showing shells that had been banned from sale and taken off the beach. The shells in the picture below are all protected by law in the Philippines. If you do encounter similar shells, don't take them with you!
<h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > is just a shell, how much impact can it have? </h1>
Many people will think that it is a big deal, what is the big deal, is not it a shell? What impact can empty shells have on the environment? In fact, these shells, even empty shells, play an important role in the marine ecosystem of the Philippines. These shells provide shelter for some crabs and smaller marine life, protecting them from predators and waves.
Ms. Ludivina Labe, senior marine biologist at the Philippine Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Agency, said: "Shells are an important player in the web of marine life, and a significant reduction in sea shell populations will lead to ecological imbalances. Certain species of shells help fight ocean acidification. Shells play an important role in the ocean's chemical cycle. ”
And given the staggering number of tourists on the beaches of the Philippines, if every tourist takes a shell from the beach, imagine how many shells can remain in the sea.
< h1 class="pgc-h-arrow-right" > last</h1>
For the sake of the ecological balance of the ocean, the principle of hanging out on the beach in the Philippines is to leave everything that belongs to the ocean on the beach. If you encounter a vendor who sells you shells, please reject him. If you want to buy souvenirs, the Philippines has many more suitable souvenirs. On the beach it is better not to leave anything but your footprints.
Click "Learn More" below to read more about the Philippines
Note: This article is an original work in Fei YanFei, unauthorized reproduction is strictly prohibited