SHENZHEN Bay is a hot scenic spot for tourists in the summer. Visitors appreciate the beautiful scenery, but some also cannot help harvesting oysters on the seashore. The city’s marine department and environment protection organizations warned that the behavior is illegal. Early Monday morning, a visitor posted pictures online about oysters they collected on the bay’s shore, saying that “we are very excited to discover this ‘new land’ that hides treasures. Four of us collected a full bag of oysters weighing about 0.5 to 1 kilograms.” Some netizens commented that fishing is banned in Shenzhen Bay. A security guard surnamed Huang, who patrol along the shore, told the reporter that many tourists harvest oysters when the tide is low, particularly during the weekend. “The park management department stipulates regulations against any shellfish collection. However, these visitors don’t make a living by this. So we persuade them from approaching oyster reefs without imposing penalties.” A manager with the Shenzhen Bay Park Management Department said that they will further strengthen management of the park, appealing for visitors’ protection of the bay’s biological environment. Wang Zhou, a staffer from the Shenzhen Marine Comprehensive Enforcement Branch, said that since May 1, 2020, they have conducted 1,302 patrols, including 1,143 patrols by speedboat, along the coastline of over 17 kilometers. A total of 192 instances of oyster harvesting and fishing have been stopped. Fishing nets of over 8,000 meters and 86 fishing tools have been seized. A total of four fishing platforms have been destroyed. Ma Haipeng, head of a marine environment protection organization called Blue Ocean, told the reporter that harvesting oysters in Shenzhen Bay shows a lack of environment protection publicity. The joint efforts of the government and volunteers are significant to maintain the bay’s biodiversity. Meanwhile, Ma strongly dissuaded citizens from feeding birds that fly over the area, which would negatively impact the animals. Citizens who spot illegal fishing in Shenzhen Bay can report to the fishery administration department by calling 83561831. (Xia Yuanjie) | 