Southeast Asia
287
Spratly Islands, Tung-Sha
(Dongsha Qundao) Reefs and
the Paracel Islands
MAPS I0g and h
The
Spratly Islands, lying over 200
kilometers west of the Philippines and northwest of
Sabah, Malaysia, are a group of perhaps 30 small
islands, sand cays and rocks, with associated patch and
atoll reefs covering some 1 150 square kilometers.
Although there have only been limited studies, it is likely
that they harbor extremely important biodiversity, and in
1997 it was estimated that some 68 hermatypic scleractinian coral genera had been described by scientists from
multiple surveys. It has fiirther been suggested that these
reefs may play a critical role in the maintenance of regional
biodiversity, acting as a source stock and exporting fish
larvae to the heavily fished reefs of surrounding countries.
The ownership of these islands is hotly disputed.
China, Taiwan and Vietnam claim all of the islands and
reefs, the Philippines claims most of them, while Malaysia
claims a southern group and Brunei Darussalam claims one.
Vigorous efforts are made by all countries to strengthen
these claims and there are numerous military outposts
scattered among the reefs. Over 70 people have been killed
in active combat in recent years. Because of these military
hazards the reefs are not heavily fished, and a significant
number of Chinese and Philippine fishers have been arrested
for attempting to fish the area. Some fishing does occur,
however, and tends to target the largest species, notably
sharks, or use explosives to make a rapid catch. Additionally
the unspecified number of military personnel (possibly
thousands) undoubtedly have some impact through fishing,
and have caused wide-scale degradation of terrestrial systems including important seabird nesting colonies. Overall
15 km
the area is probably in relatively good condition, although
the risks of conflict and potential impacts on the environment remain great. One suggestion has been that the area
might be declared an international marine park through the
development of an agreement similar to the international
Antarctic Treaty (where, again, various countries have multiple overlapping claims of sovereignty). There has been
little development of such a proposal, although there have
been a small number of joint studies of the reefs and islands
between Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Tung-Sha (Dongsha Qundao) Reefs
The Tung-Sha or Dongsha Qundao reefs are located in the
northern reaches of the South China Sea, centered around
a large, submerged atoll with a single island. Diversity is
not high, although over 70 coral species have been
recorded. These reefs are disputed between China and
Taiwan, although Taiwan maintains a lighthouse and
meteorological station on the island.
Paracel Islands
The Paracel Islands are a group of atolls, atoll complexes
and platform reefs, together with some 3 1 small islands
in the South China Sea. Sovereignty over these islands is
disputed with Vietnam. A considerable diversity of corals
and other groups has been observed, and hermatypic coral
cover was reported to be high, particularly on the northeastern reef flats, but low on the reef slopes.
Left: A pink anemonefish Amphipnon perideraion. Right: Tung-Slia Atoll ISTS055-92-3, 19931.
287
Spratly Islands, Tung-Sha
(Dongsha Qundao) Reefs and
the Paracel Islands
MAPS I0g and h
The
Spratly Islands, lying over 200
kilometers west of the Philippines and northwest of
Sabah, Malaysia, are a group of perhaps 30 small
islands, sand cays and rocks, with associated patch and
atoll reefs covering some 1 150 square kilometers.
Although there have only been limited studies, it is likely
that they harbor extremely important biodiversity, and in
1997 it was estimated that some 68 hermatypic scleractinian coral genera had been described by scientists from
multiple surveys. It has fiirther been suggested that these
reefs may play a critical role in the maintenance of regional
biodiversity, acting as a source stock and exporting fish
larvae to the heavily fished reefs of surrounding countries.
The ownership of these islands is hotly disputed.
China, Taiwan and Vietnam claim all of the islands and
reefs, the Philippines claims most of them, while Malaysia
claims a southern group and Brunei Darussalam claims one.
Vigorous efforts are made by all countries to strengthen
these claims and there are numerous military outposts
scattered among the reefs. Over 70 people have been killed
in active combat in recent years. Because of these military
hazards the reefs are not heavily fished, and a significant
number of Chinese and Philippine fishers have been arrested
for attempting to fish the area. Some fishing does occur,
however, and tends to target the largest species, notably
sharks, or use explosives to make a rapid catch. Additionally
the unspecified number of military personnel (possibly
thousands) undoubtedly have some impact through fishing,
and have caused wide-scale degradation of terrestrial systems including important seabird nesting colonies. Overall
15 km
the area is probably in relatively good condition, although
the risks of conflict and potential impacts on the environment remain great. One suggestion has been that the area
might be declared an international marine park through the
development of an agreement similar to the international
Antarctic Treaty (where, again, various countries have multiple overlapping claims of sovereignty). There has been
little development of such a proposal, although there have
been a small number of joint studies of the reefs and islands
between Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.
Tung-Sha (Dongsha Qundao) Reefs
The Tung-Sha or Dongsha Qundao reefs are located in the
northern reaches of the South China Sea, centered around
a large, submerged atoll with a single island. Diversity is
not high, although over 70 coral species have been
recorded. These reefs are disputed between China and
Taiwan, although Taiwan maintains a lighthouse and
meteorological station on the island.
Paracel Islands
The Paracel Islands are a group of atolls, atoll complexes
and platform reefs, together with some 3 1 small islands
in the South China Sea. Sovereignty over these islands is
disputed with Vietnam. A considerable diversity of corals
and other groups has been observed, and hermatypic coral
cover was reported to be high, particularly on the northeastern reef flats, but low on the reef slopes.
Left: A pink anemonefish Amphipnon perideraion. Right: Tung-Slia Atoll ISTS055-92-3, 19931.