On April 25, a reporter from The Paper (www.thepaper.cn) learned from Shanghai Pudong police that the Pudong Public Security recently uncovered a case of illegal purchase and sale of rare and endangered wild animals. This case is the first case of illegal trading of live crustaceans in Shanghai.

At present, the seized clams are being taken care of by the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium.

Picture of the surging journalist Gong Hanhua

　　According to Yang Shuting, assistant manager of the Aquarium Department of Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, clam is the largest bivalve in the ocean, with a maximum body length of more than 1 meter and a weight of more than 300 kilograms. It is called the "king of shellfish."

At present, different species of clams in China belong to the national first and second level protected aquatic wildlife.

The growth of clams is slow and the population is small. Under overfishing, clam resources in the Chinese seas, especially large clams, are almost depleted.

　　At the beginning of October 2020, the Lujiazui Public Security Office of the Pudong Public Security Bureau received a report from the public that someone in a WeChat group of marine animal lovers was selling clams.

After receiving the report, the Pudong police quickly set up a task force to conduct investigations, and soon discovered that the man Xu XX had been selling clams online for a long time.

　　In early October, the task force locked Xu XX's whereabouts and the identification information of five buyers.

At 6 o'clock on October 14th, the police went to Pudong, Jiading, Baoshan and other places, arrested the seller Xu XX, buyers Long XX, Chen XX and other six people, and seized 35 live crustaceans, all of which belonged to the state. Secondary protected animals.

　　"After arriving at the case, Xu Moumou claimed that he was selling "five claw shells" and not clams." According to Zhou Jian, deputy head of the Public Security Brigade of Lujiazui Public Security Division of Pudong Public Security Bureau, during the investigation, the police discovered that Xu and others were trading. Shi never mentioned clams, but always referred to them as "five claw shells".

　　After various verifications and the appraisal report issued by the Shanghai Wildlife Species Appraisal Center, the task force confirmed that the so-called "five claw shellfish" is a cover-up statement for clams in the circle of marine animal lovers, and Xu XX is selling clams.

　　Xu Moumou confessed that at first he was just an ordinary marine animal lover. By coincidence, he entered a related interest discussion WeChat group. After a few days, he found that many people were selling sea fish, corals and clams in the group.磲.

　　From 2013 to 2019, Xu Moumou purchased a large number of clams through various channels, totaling more than 30.

He breeds these clams himself and sells them through WeChat groups, and mails them to buyers by means of intra-city flash delivery, express delivery, etc., and most of the buyers are also hobbyists.

　　Xu Moumou confessed to his criminal act of illegally purchasing and selling rare and endangered wild animals.

At present, Xu Moumou was sentenced to six months imprisonment by the Pudong Court and a fine of RMB 5,000. The remaining buyers were sentenced to three months of detention, suspended for three months, and a fine of RMB 1,000.

　　According to the police, the clams seized by the police have been taken care of by the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium, a rescue company designated by the fishery administration supervision, and will be displayed in the museum from May 1 to June 30 as an exhibit in the "Special Exhibition on Aquatic Wildlife Protection" Exhibit it to the public and conduct popular science and propaganda about endangered wild animals to the public.

　　The police reminded that at present, any form of trading of live clams and products is illegal in China, and citizens who privately own clams should voluntarily turn it over to the fishery department.

　　The Paper Journalist Gong Hanhua