In-depth look at Huangyan Dao's ecological health report

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On July 10, the Investigation and Assessment Report on Marine Ecology and Environment Status of Huangyan Dao (hereinafter referred to as the Report) was released. This report provides a comprehensive "health check" of the ecological and environmental conditions of Huangyan Dao, revealing that the area enjoys excellent eco-environmental quality and boasts a healthy coral reef ecosystem.

What are the key indicators in this "health check" report? How does this report provide strong evidence to counter the recent false accusations by the Philippines against China regarding marine environmental protection? To address these questions, the CMG Voice of the South China Sea interviewed experts from the investigation team: Yang Jing, a researcher at the South China Institute of Environmental Sciences under the Ministry of Ecology and Environment; and Yang Xiao, the deputy director of the Institute of Maritime Strategy Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

Voice of the South China Sea: Based on the Report and related investigations, what are the current characteristics of the ecological environment of Huangyan Dao and its surrounding waters?

Yang Jing: From May to June this year, we conducted a systematic survey of the marine ecosystem around Huangyan Dao. This was essentially a comprehensive physical examination of the area. The survey results indicate that the area enjoys excellent eco-environmental quality. The seawater quality and marine sediment quality are top-notch, the levels of pollutants in fish are low, the density of floating marine debris is very low, and the coral reef ecosystem is assessed as healthy and maintains good momentum for sound development.

When assessing the ecological quality of this area, we followed a set of technical specifications and indicators, which covered seawater quality, marine sediment quality, various pollutants in marine organisms, and ecological groups of coral reefs. We also conducted a trawl survey of floating debris on the sea surface near Huangyan Dao.

Voice of the South China Sea: Why is the reef-building coral species used to assess the environmental quality of the waters around Huangyan Dao? What are the environmental requirements for this species?

Yang Jing: Coral reefs grow from reef-building corals. Live reef-building corals are the most common and representative indicators of the condition of coral reef ecosystems. They are also one of the most important indicators used in the industry to assess the health of coral reef ecosystems. The healthy development of reef-building corals and the presence of vibrant coral communities and a rich variety of reef-dwelling species require certain conditions, including appropriate seawater temperature, water quality, clarity, and currents. Our recent survey shows a significant increase in the average coverage of reef-building corals around Huangyan Dao compared to the same period in 2015, reaching 28.6 percent, which is relatively high on a global scale.

Voice of the South China Sea: How did the research team conduct the cyanide detection in the waters around Huangyan Dao?

Yang Jing: We specifically conducted an in-depth investigation to detect any cyanide residues in various environmental media around Huangyan Dao. The results show that no cyanide was detected in the seawater, sediments or fish in the area. During the entire survey, we also found no evidence of illegal fishing activities, such as using cyanide to poison fish, at any point along our route or at any survey locations.

Voice of the South China Sea: You have visited Huangyan Dao multiple times. What did you see on site? What is your take on this inspection report on Huangyan Dao?

Yang Xiao: Because of my job, I have been to Huangyan Dao many times. It is incredibly beautiful, like a jewel nestled in the sea. In recent years, China has implemented strict environmental protection measures in the waters around Huangyan Dao. Therefore, the overall impression is one of delicate beauty and tranquility. I was informed by the survey team that today's on-site investigation went smoothly.

I am deeply impressed by the Report. The survey data and scientific conclusions presented in the Report fully corroborate what we observed on site and reflect the effectiveness of our efforts to strengthen the ecological protection of the waters around Huangyan Dao in recent years. Measures such as seasonal fishing moratorium and regular cleanup of marine debris have contributed to the protection of the fishery resources and ecological environment in the area. Thanks to these efforts, since 2012, we have seen continuous improvement in the ecological conditions in this area, as well as the growing size of coral reefs near Huangyan Dao.

Voice of the South China Sea: Huangyan Dao has also suffered some human-caused damage in the past. Could you elaborate on this?

Yang Xiao: Yes, Huangyan Dao experienced significant damage in the past. After World War II, as an ally of the United States, the Philippines provided military bases to the U.S. The stationed U.S. military used Huangyan Dao as a regular target range. And what is worse, during the Vietnam War in the 1970s, many American warplanes bound for Vietnam flew from the Philippines across the South China Sea. Some planes, returning with unused bombs, would dump their munitions on Huangyan Dao. Additionally, Filipino fishermen previously engaged in very disorderly operations around the island, employing destructive fishing methods such as blast fishing and trawling, which severely damaged the marine ecosystem.

Voice of the South China Sea: The Report mentioned that no cyanide was detected in the seawater, marine sediments, or fish samples around Huangyan Dao. What do you think is the significance of this finding?

Yang Xiao: Yes, this finding is crucial. Since the beginning of this year, the Philippines has been spreading rumors falsely accusing Chinese fishermen of using cyanide fishing in the South China Sea, specifically mentioning Huangyan Dao. In reality, cyanide fishing was actually invented by the Philippines, dating back to the 1960s or even earlier. Due to underdeveloped economic and social conditions at the time, Filipino fishermen adopted this extreme method to catch valuable marine products. The Chinese researchers conducted meticulous on-site sampling and analysis, culminating in the solid and irrefutable conclusion that no cyanide was detected. This not only proves that we are not engaging in illegal fishing activities but also serves as a strong rebuttal to the Philippines' baseless accusations against China.

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