Conch-collecting competition canceled for environmental concern

NANNING, May 18 (Xinhua) -- A tourist resort that is home to a large mangrove forest in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region has called off a conch-collecting contest after a campaign protesting its likely environmental impact.

The management of the resort located in Golden Bay, Beihai City, announced the decision on its website on Tuesday night, saying "they heeded opinion and suggestions from society."

The event, which was scheduled for early July, had attracted more than 10,000 competitors, who would have collected conches buried in shallow sand in the resort. The management said the conches were bought from fishermen.

A spokesperson with China Mangrove Conservation Network said so many people stamping on and digging through the sand would threaten the environment in Golden Bay, home to more than 40 varieties of benthos.

The resort includes a 130-hectare mangrove forest that helps hold back tidal waves and provides food and homes for birds and marine creatures. Mangrove forests cover about 9,700 hectares of Guangxi's shoreline.