Personnel on board burning garbage on the deck of the illegally grounded military vessel, 2014. /China's Ministry of Natural Resources
The Philippine military vessel that has been illegally grounded at the lagoon slope of Ren'ai Jiao since 1999 has gravely damaged the diversity, stability and sustainability of the coral reef ecosystem in the area, according to a report released by China's Ministry of Natural Resources on Monday.
It said the distribution area of reef-building coral on the reef flat and lagoon slope of Ren'ai Jiao has drastically decreased, with the most significant declines observed in the waters around the vessel.
Numerous coral fragments and dead corals were found near the vessel, with the variety and coverage of reef-building corals on the lagoon slope identified as notably lower than on the seaward slope.
The community structure of benthic invertebrates in the reef area has become imbalanced, particularly around the warship, and levels of heavy metals, oils and active phosphates in the seawater of the reef area are significantly higher than historical records, according to the report.
Various debris, such as fishing nets, is scattered throughout the reef area, it said.
Philippine fishing boats in the Ren'ai Jiao reef area, 2024. /China's Ministry of Natural Resources
The report, drafted jointly by the South China Sea Ecological Center and the South China Sea Development Research Institute of China's Ministry of Natural Resources, offers the first comprehensive and systematic assessment of the coral reef ecosystem status of Ren'ai Jiao.
Based on satellite remote sensing and on-site survey data, it identified the grounded vessel and its associated human activities as the primary causes of the ecological damage.
The vessel's illegal grounding process has caused serious damage to the coral reef ecosystem, as its prolonged presence has significantly inhibited the growth and recovery of corals in the surrounding area, the document said.
Distribution of reef-building corals in different areas of the Ren'ai Jiao reef platform in March 2011. /China's Ministry of Natural Resources
Distribution of reef-building corals in different areas of the Ren'ai Jiao reef platform in April 2024. /China's Ministry of Natural Resources
"Heavy metal precipitation caused by the military vessel's corrosion, along with the discharge of domestic garbage and sewage from the personnel on board, has caused lasting harm to the corals' health," according to the report.
The badly rusted vessel in different years. /China's Ministry of Natural Resources
"The health of coral reef ecosystem has been severely compromised by fishing wastes, including fishing nets and fishing lines discarded by Philippine fishing boats and by the personnel on board," it said.
The report urged the Philippines to remove the vessel, eliminate the sources of pollution, and prevent further harm to the coral reef ecosystem of Ren'ai Jiao.