Shenzhen NGO Dives to Save Coral in South China Waters

By Bailey Hu, February 7, 2018

In addition to millions of migrant workers, it turns out that Shenzhen also hosts a teeming mass of biodiversity, one that's hidden under the surface of surrounding waters. Dapeng Peninsula alone has 13 documented coral reef sites, making up over a third of coral reefs in the province.

Unfortunately, all that underwater life is in danger. Coral coverage in the region has declined precipitously in the last few decades due to human-driven changes such as pollution, climate change, overfishing and even construction projects, according to a Sixth Tone report.

Local nonprofit Dive for Love seeks to fight back against the tide and help restore Shenzhen's reefs. The group is made up of volunteers who conduct monthly cleanups of the seabeds around Dapeng, plus give classes to increase environmental awareness among local kids.

600 people of all different backgrounds have joined the group since 2014, according to Sixth Tone. They pick up litter and nets that put reefs at risk, and build 'nurseries' to help rehabilitate broken coral branches. They've continued despite setbacks like poor visibility in the waters around Shenzhen, and at one point, the objections of local fishermen.

Volunteers fight poor visibility to pick up litter and other objects that harm reefs

But despite their triumphs, it's still an upstream battle for volunteers. For one thing, frequent typhoons and passing ships threaten their current coral nursery, constructed in Da'ao Bay last November. The last three nurseries died off due to extreme weather as well as unfavorable currents.

Continued pollution from the city and large construction projects such as the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge (which also affects Chinese white dolphins) have also hit reefs hard, Liao Baolin, who is senior engineer of marine conservation at Guangdong Ocean University, told Sixth Tone.

Nevertheless, the folks at Dive for Love keep swimming.

To learn more about or donate to Dive for Love, follow official WeChat account ID 'dive4love.' Fill out a form to become a volunteer here (in Chinese).

READ MORE: How to Become a Volunteer in Shenzhen