In the southernmost city of Sansha, nestled within the Chinese mainland's Hainan Province, marine conservation efforts are making a splash! Recent local initiatives have led to a remarkable boost in biodiversity, featuring stunning coral reefs and the return of endangered marine species.
Green sea turtles, recognized as a first-class protected species in China, are thriving once again. This year alone, 20 turtle nests were discovered on the islands and reefs of the Xisha Islands in Sansha City. 🐢✨
With the breeding season underway from May to September, local fishermen have intensified their monitoring of the turtles' nesting activities to ensure higher survival rates for the newborn hatchlings. \"The monitoring system captures real-time information about turtles coming ashore to lay eggs and sends alert messages to our mobile phones,\" explained Yu Yangfei from the city's Marine Reserve Administration. \"We usually visit the site with the fishermen the next morning to verify if the turtles have actually laid eggs.\"
Over the past five years, Sansha has witnessed over 1,300 natural nestings by green sea turtles on its islands and reefs. Patrol staff take great pride in spotting the little turtles as they make their journey to the sea. \"Every time we go on patrol and find little turtles coming out, we are very excited to see their tracks,\" said Huang Cheng, a member of the local turtle patrol team. \"We feel a sense of achievement by protecting a nest of turtles if they make their way to the sea.\"
Despite challenges like freshwater scarcity, Sansha City has successfully planted over 53,000 saplings out of 85,000 nurtured, achieving green coverage rates exceeding 90% on several islands and reefs. 🌱🌿
The region is also a haven for avian life, with 78 species of sea birds recorded across China's vast seas and more than 40 of them roaming Sansha's islands and reefs. Coral reef restoration is in full swing, with demonstration areas on Yongxing and Qilianyu islands set to receive over 260,000 coral seedlings to bolster conservation efforts.
\"We will continue to gather efforts from various departments and relevant scientific research institutions to jointly protect the marine environment in our city,\" stated Zhang Chenglong, deputy director of the Sansha Marine and Fishery Bureau.
