Graveyard of shellfish after the embankment of Saemangeum, South Korea
Within the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, the tidal flats of the Yellow Sea are the most important refueling sites ("airports") for Arctic birds. The huge embankment of Saemangeum, which enclosed 400 km2 of tidal flats have decreased important refueling space for Arctic shorebirds significantly. This picture of dead shellfish just after the new seawall was closed demonstrates the former high bio-productivity of the mudflats, which was also important for local fishermen.
Year: 2012
From album: The Tidal Flats of the Yellow Sea within the East Asia Pacific Flyway of Coastal Birds
Photographer: Peter Prokosch