For generations, fishermen from Tanmen Port, known as the gate to the South China Sea with a history of a thousand years, have relied on the coral-rich waters for their livelihoods.

'The water in the South China Sea is crystal blue. The coral reefs below are clearly visible. The first time I saw them when I was 15 years old, I was stunned by their beauty,' said Ding Zhifu, a fisherman in Tanmen.

Now, Ding and others speak of declining catches and degraded ecosystems. 'Fishing in the Nansha Islands for about a month, we can usually bring back about five tons of fish,' said Ding. 'But compared to the old days, our catch has dropped. Coral bleaching is damaging the habitats, and some foreign fishermen using explosives are making it even worse.'

'I've seen some foreign fishermen use dynamite, blasting everything in sight. Some also use electric shock gear,' said fellow fisherman Wang Zhenfu. 'We've always believed the South China Sea is our ancestral sea. Our forefathers have fished here for generations. So, seeing those destructive fishing activities really upset me. This kind of destruction will ruin the livelihoods of the next generation.'

Across the South China Sea and much of the world, coral reefs are facing unprecedented stress. The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) recently confirmed that over 84% of the planet's coral reefs have been affected by what is now considered the fourth global mass bleaching event.

'Mass bleaching and mortality events are drastically reducing the diversity of coral reefs worldwide,' said Professor Yang Hongqiang of the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 'Many reef species are now on the brink of extinction.'

The primary driver is climate change, scientists say. Rising sea surface temperatures have weakened corals' symbiotic relationship with algae known as zooxanthellae, the microscopic organisms that give corals their color and provide essential nutrients. As a result, corals expel the algae and bleach.

But the problems don't stop there. 'The frequency and intensity of tropical storms have also increased, destroying reef structures,' said Yang. 'Ocean acidification, caused by excess carbon dioxide dissolving into seawater, further inhibits coral growth.'

Biological threats are compounding the crisis. One example is the crown-of-thorns starfish, a predator of coral polyps that is spreading rapidly in warm, nutrient-rich waters. A single starfish can release tens of millions of eggs in one season.

'Under certain conditions, their population explodes,' said Professor Qin Gen, another researcher at the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology. 'They can wipe out entire coral regions, turning vibrant reefs into white wastelands.'

Yet despite these threats, misinformation continues to circulate. One recurring claim is that China has used coral rubble to artificially build islands in the South China Sea. However, scientists have pointed out that many of the sandbars, or 'cays,' seen in the region are natural formations, created when dead coral fragments accumulate and are pushed ashore by waves and monsoons.

'I captured one such phenomenon in 2016 at Tiexian Jiao, right after a storm,' said Professor Yang. 'These are unstable features with no vegetation. They shift constantly with the weather. It may look like artificial filling, but it's entirely natural.'

While scientists battle both ecological collapse and misinformation, restoration efforts are ongoing. Professor Huang Hui, affectionately known as 'Coral Mum,' has led coral rehabilitation projects across the South China Sea for nearly two decades.

'In total, we've restored around 30 hectares with nearly 400,000 corals,' said Huang. In her lab in Hainan, researchers cultivate over 100 species of reef-building corals, many of them rare and native to island ecosystems.

Scientists noted that technology is also playing an increasing role. From underwater sensors to AI-assisted monitoring, marine scientists are adopting new tools to track reef health and manage restoration more effectively. China is also collaborating internationally, participating in global coral symposia and working with research institutions in the U.S., France, and Australia.

'We've strengthened foundational research on coral bleaching mechanisms, and we're cultivating heat-resistant coral species,' said Professor Zhao Meixia. 'This is a global effort.'

Still, many in the field warn that science alone cannot save the reefs.

'We're not going to build entirely new reefs with restoration techniques alone,' said Jennifer Matthews, a coral biologist from the University of Technology Sydney. 'We need immediate and significant action on climate change if we're going to save coral reefs.'

As warming waters test the resilience of the oceans, the message from scientists, fishermen, and even animated coral voices is clear: the window for saving these underwater rainforests is closing. But it is not yet shut, if the world chooses to act.

Company: China Global Television Network

Contact Person: Huang Yue

City: Beijing

E-mail: [email protected]

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