MORE than 500 applicants have been selected as protectors and fosters for the coral germchits in Dapeng, according to a name list released by Dapeng’s natural resources bureau Sunday, National Coral Day.

Also on Sunday, China Coral Protection Alliance announced initiation of a general survey of coral in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Fujian, a Shenzhen Evening News report said Monday.

Guangdong is the earliest province in China to have conducted a coral survey. Since 2007, the annual survey has attracted 3,000 volunteers to participate.

Statistics from Shenzhen Research Institute of Ocean University of China showed the survival rate of coral germchits is 85 percent, which enables restoration and the building of offshore coral ecologies.

At a ceremony Sunday, four State-protected Grade II green turtles were released after 10 months of rehabilitation since they had been saved.

With a coastline of 128 kilometers, Dapeng has 200 hectares of sea area for coral reefs of more than 70 species. Some 13,000 coral germchits have so far been planted in Dapeng’s sea area. (Han Ximin)