Who has destroyed the reefs in the South China Sea?

The overwhelming majority of such construction has been by China, which infamously dredged up Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef, Mischief Reef, Woody Island, and some other islets between 2014 and 2017, to make way for artificial islands that now host its military.

Are there coral reefs in China?

China started researching its coral reefs in the 1950s, but only a few institutions and scientists were involved, with little overall planning or funding. The scope and continuity of research were therefore limited. The year 2005 saw the launch of the largest survey of China’s coastal waters – the 908 Project.

What is China doing to some of the coral reefs and atolls in the South China Sea?

China’s island construction, drilling activities, and overfishing have pushed the marine ecosystem of the region to the brink of collapse, and the destruction of coral reefs and the marine life they support is threatening the food and energy security of the littorals.

How has China transformed underwater reefs in the South China Sea?

In 2014 China began massive dredging operations to build artificial islands around seven reefs that they claimed as their territory. The artificial islands have been transformed into significant military facilities including three runways that have been used for the deployment of Chinese fighter jets.

What is coral reef ecosystem?

A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Sometimes called rainforests of the sea, shallow coral reefs form some of Earth’s most diverse ecosystems.

Why are coral reefs so diverse?

Coral reefs are one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth, rivaled only by tropical rain forests. Competition for resources such as food, space and sunlight are some of the primary factors in determining the abundances and diversity of organisms on a reef.

Are Chinese fishermen deliberately destroying reefs in the Spratly Islands?

I’d been told that Chinese fishermen were deliberately destroying reefs near a group of Philippine-controlled atolls in the Spratly Islands but I was not convinced. “It goes on day and night, month after month,” a Filipino mayor told me on the island of Palawan. “I think it is deliberate. It is like they are punishing us by destroying our reefs.”

What’s happening in the South China Sea?

Rupert Wingfield-Hayes flies over China’s new artificial islands built on coral reefs in the South China Sea, and gets a furious and threatening response from the Chinese Navy. Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine’s email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.

What does the South China Sea ruling mean for the environment?

Today’s ruling by the Permanent Tribunal of Arbitration in the Netherlands strongly condemns China for the serious and permanent environmental damage it has inflicted to coral reefs and and their wildlife in the South China Sea.

What are the effects of Chinese fishing on the environment?

The Chinese fisherman have additionally removed a wide range of sea life, including endangered sea turtles, giant clams, giant oysters, sharks, eels, and large pieces of highly ornamental coral. On one occasion 28 Chinese fishing boats were simultaneously trawling the coral reefs.