About 200 tons of illegally harvested giant mussel shells worth nearly $ 25 million (£ 18 million) have been seized in the Philippines.
The seizure is one of the largest tractors of the endangered species ever.
Four suspects have been arrested on an island in the ecologically protected province of Palawan.
Giant mussels can grow up to one meter wide and weigh up to 250 kg. They are seen as essential to the local marine ecosystem.
The Philippines is home to most of the world’s giant tropical mussels.
Jovic Fabello, spokesman for the Palawan Council for Sustainable Development, said the seized shells included Tridacna gigas, the world’s largest mussel.
“Taking the giant mussels out of their natural habitat is a form of intergenerational crime,” he told AFP news agency.
“It will permanently affect the marine ecosystem and future generations will be deprived of the benefits that come from it,” he added.
Tridacna gigas contain marine algae which are a food source for many of the fish species that are eaten by humans. They are increasingly vulnerable to poaching, both for their meat and shells, which are used as a replacement for ivory in jewelry and decorations.
In the Philippines, killing endangered species can result in imprisonment of up to 12 years and fines of up to one million pesos (£ 15,000).