New marine observation station expands South China Sea reef network

The Chinese Academy of Sciences recently approved the establishment of the Zhongsha Islands marine ecological environment field observation and research station, marking a significant expansion of China's island reef observation network across the South China Sea.

Proposed by the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the new station will fill an observation gap in the Zhongsha waters following the maturation and stable operation of observation platforms in the Xisha and Nansha islands. Its approval will help establish a comprehensive ecological observation network covering the island reefs of the South China Sea.

The Zhongsha Islands are located in the central waters of the South China Sea basin and consist of a group of reefs and atolls such as the Zhongsha atoll and Huangyan Island. The Zhongsha atoll is one of the world's rare giant submerged atolls, while Huangyan Island is the only oceanic atoll in the South China Sea.

The geological strata of the Zhongsha Islands record the formation, evolution and reef-growth history of the South China Sea. The region's hydrodynamic environment is significantly influenced by weak ocean currents and strong storms, supporting coral reef ecosystems with distinctive regional characteristics, unique biodiversity and abundant fishery resources. The islands also serve as refuges for marine species and steppingstones for their dispersal throughout the South China Sea.

Long-term, systematic ecological observation will provide irreplaceable baseline data for frontier research in marine science, ecology, geology and fishery resources, the institute said.

The institute completed China's first comprehensive scientific survey of the Xisha and Zhongsha islands between 1974 and 1977. Over the past half century, it has maintained its commitment to research in the Zhongsha Islands, continuously conducting comprehensive scientific surveys and ecological monitoring to fulfill national objectives and support sustainable development in the South China Sea.

The new observation station will adopt a coordinated construction model featuring two offshore core platforms and one onshore general support platform, establishing a three-dimensional marine observation network covering the Zhongsha waters with gradient stratification.

The approval recognizes the institute's long-term commitment to research in the Zhongsha Islands and reflects the Chinese Academy of Sciences' efforts to support the national strategy for the South China Sea through scientific and technological capabilities.

The Zhongsha station will coordinate with the Xisha and Nansha stations to further improve the comprehensive island reef observation network in the South China Sea.

It aims to become a public marine field observation platform integrating long-term continuous observation, frontier basic research, ecological restoration demonstration and decision-making support services, providing sustained scientific support for the sustainable development of the South China Sea.