Explore and protect “Coral Gardens” in Guangdong’s underwater world

Coral is an important component of marine ecosystems, with over 25% of known marine species living in coral habitats.

Along the extensive coastline of Guangdong, there are abundant coral reefs.

Professor Liu Lan's team at Sun Yat-sen University has long been engaged in coral reef research.

In the waters around Wailingding Island in Zhuhai, they have been measuring and restoring the largest area of staghorn coral in Guangdong.

In the waters around Wailingding Island in Zhuhai, researchers from Sun Yat-sen University are rescuing staghorn coral damaged by typhoons.

A chain of coral reefs has formed along the long coastline of Guangdong, stretching along the Nanpeng Islands of Shantou, Daya Bay of Huizhou, Dapeng Bay of Shenzhen, Jiapo Islands of Zhuhai, Fangji Island of Maoming, Naozhou Island of Zhanjiang, and Beibu Gulf of the Leizhou Peninsula.

Coral reefs are like underwater castles, providing shelter and food for many marine species. Additionally, their complex structures help resist waves and protect the coast.

In recent years, coral reefs have faced significant environmental pressure due to climate change, ocean acidification, water pollution, and illegal fishing. However, the overall marine ecological environment in Guangdong has been continuously improving. By the end of last year, the proportion of areas with excellent water quality in Guangdong's nearshore waters reached 92.3%, the highest since monitoring began.

"Now more and more volunteers are participating in coral surveys, and fishing practices are becoming more regulated, which are all good signs," said Prof. Liu Lan.

In the waters of the National Nature Reserve of Guangdong Nanpeng Islands, volunteers regularly remove fishing nets entangled in coral reefs.

The waters around Wailingding Island in Zhuhai.

In the waters around Wailingding Island in Zhuhai, a large expanse of staghorn coral is thriving. 

Researchers are measuring the coral area along the edges.

In the waters around Wailingding Island in Zhuhai, a diver swims alongside Clark's anemonefish.

Coral larvae growing in underwater cultivation grids.

A greyface moray eel hides in a rock crevice between corals, waiting for prey.

Clark's anemonefish live among sea anemones, providing food for the anemones while receiving protection in return.

Banded coral shrimps wave their claws as they feed on microorganisms in the water currents beneath the coral reefs in the waters around Wailingding Island in Zhuhai.

Finger leather corals in the waters around Wailingding Island in Zhuhai.

Dendronephthya soft corals are thriving in the favorable water temperature and quality in the waters around Wailingding Island in Zhuhai.

The seafloor in the waters around Wailingding Island in Zhuhai is covered with colorful corals.

A lionfish with its "luxurious costume" playfully swims among the corals.

A Clark's anemonefish and a bubble-tip anemone in the waters around Wailingding Island in Zhuhai.

A banded sea urchin in the waters around Wailingding Island in Zhuhai.

Cactus coral in the waters of Dapeng, Shenzhen.

Leptastrea pruinosa coral in the waters of Dapeng, Shenzhen.

False stonefish in the waters around Wailingding Island in Zhuhai.

Orange cup coral in the waters around Wailingding Island in Zhuhai.

A hairy red hermit crab inside a pyram top shell in the waters around Wailingding Island in Zhuhai.

Thorny sea cucumber in the waters of the Nanpeng Islands, Shantou.