RESULTS of a general survey on the conditions of coral reefs in Guangdong Province conducted last year showed that the coverage rate of coral reefs in Shenzhen had increased at a steady pace in recent years, the Shenzhen Economic Daily reported.

The slow increase of coral reefs suggests that the ecological renovation projects in Shenzhen, mainly in Dapeng New Area, over the past few years have worked, according to the survey results.

The latest round of surveys was launched in Shenzhen on June 8 last year, and was finished in November. The team that conducted the survey consists of over 20 scientists, 1,000 professional divers and over 5,000 volunteers.

With statistics collected from 21 of the 36 bases in Guangdong, the survey found that the average range of coral reef coverage is 36 percent, similar to that of 2016.

Shenzhen also has approximately 36 percent coverage of coral reefs in the sea areas, a slight increase from the previous year. In addition, compared with other sea areas in Guangdong, the sea areas in Shenzhen were found to have less fishing nets.

The coral reefs in Shenzhen are mainly scattered in the city’s eastern sea areas. The general survey collected statistics from six bases in Shenzhen, namely the Dameisha and Xiaomeisha bases in Yantian District, and Xichong, Dalu Bay, Da’ao Bay and Beizaijiao bases in Dapeng New Area.

The results showed that the coverage rate of coral reefs at Dameisha, Xichong and Dalu Bay was close to 50 percent.

“The coverage rate of coral reefs at Da’ao Bay Base was up to 72 percent in 2014, but it plummeted to 18 percent the next year because of a red tide, and in the past two years’ surveys we found the rates had increased to 23 percent in 2016 and 29 percent in 2017,” said Liao Baolin, secretary general for Guandgong’s coral reefs surveys and director of the coral reef protection center at Guangdong Ocean University.

In addition to the annual general survey, the team will also start to examine the health conditions of the coral reefs and begin a survey on seahorses this year, according to Liao. Alerts will be issued for the least healthy coral reefs. (Zhang Qian)