The Dark Patch on Bohai Bay

Fishermen from Hebei, Shandong and Tianjin provinces say they stand to lose 1 billion yuan in profits as a result of last June's Bohai Bay oil spill. After six months of litigation in local courts, academics say the fishermen should take their business elsewhere – to the United States.

The first attempt was filed on August 31 when the fishermen's representatives from Leting County of Hebei Province sued Conoco for 330 million yuan in damages. The Tianjin Maritime Court refused to hear the case, stating there was insufficient proof.