The South China Sea is one of the four major fishing areas in China, with a fishing ground area of 654.38+0.82 million square kilometers. Located in the equatorial belt and tropical zone, the seawater temperature is suitable, the water quality is fertile and the feed is sufficient. It is a feeding ground and wintering ground for economic fish, with rich fishery information. More than 0/500 species of fish/kloc-have been identified, and about 200 species have economic value, mainly including grouper, Spanish mackerel, black pomfret, silver pomfret, red fish, squid and shark. There are also many precious marine species, such as turtles, sea cucumbers, jellyfish, sea crabs, seahorses and lobsters.
Many islands and reefs in the southwest of zhongsha islands are excellent bases for marine fisheries. The fishing season generally begins at 5438+00 every June. At this time, fishermen from Hainan Island, Guangdong Province, Fujian Province, Taiwan Province Province, Hongkong and Macau set sail south to engage in fishery production in southwest zhongsha islands. It is reported that 170 fishing boats went to Xisha and Nansha in Tanmen, qionghai city on 1996. At the peak, there were about 500 fishing boats in the sea area, catching a large number of fishery products. The fishing season generally lasts until May before the arrival of the typhoon the following year, when most fishing boats return to Hainan Island or the southeast coast of China. There are also some fishermen who have settled down on zhongsha islands Island in the southwest and insisted on long-term production. They use larger fishing boats as mother ships, and the small sampans on the mother ship are scattered to various islands to build houses or live in tents. They engage in shallow-sea fishing all the year round or carry out some agricultural production according to the islands. The mother ship regularly comes to the islands to supply daily necessities and collect fishing goods.
Fishermen used to divide the vast sea area southwest of zhongsha islands into three fishing grounds: Xisha, Nansha and Zhongsha. The distribution of aquatic resources in each fishing ground has no significant characteristics, but there are some differences. In addition to fish, Xisha fishing ground is rich in large snails, hedgerow snails and ornamental shellfish, Nansha fishing ground is rich in large snails and dragonflies, and Zhongsha fishing ground is rich in various sea cucumbers. According to the purpose of coming to the island, fishermen go to the selected fishing grounds to fish, and they must eat enough every trip.
At present, the fishing boats coming to the island are mostly scattered because of their small tonnage and relatively simple equipment. China's offshore fishing industry is still relatively backward, lacking large-tonnage fishing boats necessary for offshore operation, advanced navigation technology, maritime communication technology, fish tracking and detection technology, deep-sea purse seine operation and fishery product processing equipment. Therefore, the development potential of deep-water fishing grounds in southwest zhongsha islands is very attractive.
(3) Complete commercial services
The businesses, social undertakings and residential services in the southwest of zhongsha islands are mainly concentrated in Yongxing Island in Xisha Islands. People who set foot on Yongxing Island for the first time expressed their heartfelt admiration for the island's prosperous business and developed service industry.
In Yongxing Island, the spacious street is like a huge "Wu", extending from the busy port pier to the depths of the dense coconut grove. There are green trees on both sides of the street, commercial buildings are arranged neatly, and people come and go, which is a scene of prosperity.
Business is active. There is a supply and marketing station for aquatic products on the island, and the fishery demand is sufficient. Fishing machines, oil products, fishing nets and fishing gear, aquatic products processing and other materials are readily available, which well ensures the needs of fishery production. The purchase and sale of aquatic products are booming. Fishermen all over the island actively sell various aquatic products; The world-famous Xisha seafood is continuously shipped to all parts of the world for sale. There are department stores on the island, which operate a wide variety of daily necessities, including textiles, stationery, household appliances, daily necessities and so on. There are also grain and oil supply stations and large modern grain and oil storage warehouses on the island, which can meet the supply even in wartime or famine. There are also grain and oil shops, tobacco and liquor stores, non-staple foods, bookstores and so on. All kinds of shops are rich in goods and varieties. Due to the development of agricultural production and the increase of floating population on the island, there has also been a decentralized trading market for agricultural and fishery products. Local vegetables, melons and fruits, meat and eggs, non-staple food processed products and small piles of fishing goods have all been vigorously exchanged and traded.
Social and cultural undertakings and residents' service industries have developed rapidly. There are TV stations on the island, which broadcast multiple sets of TV programs through satellite ground receiving stations every day, which can be watched by surrounding islands and adjacent sea areas. There are banks on the island, and the financial business is busy and orderly, with an annual turnover of more than 40 million yuan. There is a post and telecommunications office on the island, which subscribes to and sends more than 20,000 copies of various newspapers and magazines to the island every year, delivers more than 20,000 pieces of mail and parcels/kloc-0, and provides quality services to the military and civilians stationed on the island day and night through program-controlled telephones connected by satellites. There are hospitals on the island with advanced medical equipment and superb medical skills. Common diseases and frequently-occurring diseases are treated in time to ensure the health of personnel stationed on the island. The film projection team on the island shows nearly 100 TV series every year. There are more than 5000 books in the library on the island. There are also various cultural and recreational sports facilities on the island, and many cultural and recreational activities and sports competitions are often held. Not only that, ballroom and beauty salons, which are common in the streets of mainland towns, are also popular here, enriching and beautifying the lives of soldiers and civilians stationed on the island.
(4) transport lines connecting the two ends of the earth
Southwest zhongsha islands, scattered in the vast South China Sea, is limited by the small island area, the large number of islands and the lack of fresh water on the island. Therefore, the production materials needed by the island, the daily necessities of the soldiers and civilians stationed on the island and even the edible fresh water must be supplied from Hainan Island or the mainland of the motherland; At the same time, a large number of aquatic products produced in southwest zhongsha islands must also be transported to various places in time. Therefore, the task of maritime transportation is very arduous.
The largest transportation volume is edible fresh water and building materials. Although all the islands in the southwest of zhongsha islands can dig wells to draw fresh water, they contain too many minerals, most of which can only be used for washing but not for human consumption. With the increase in the number of residents and tourists on the island, the demand for fresh water is also increasing. It is a complete fact that "(fresh water) is more expensive than oil" in southwest zhongsha islands. With the development of economic construction in the island, the transportation volume of various building materials has also increased sharply. Take construction projects, including cement, steel, Shi Zhuan, wood and so on. Even river sand and fresh water for construction (both with high salt content) have to be transported from the island. It is no exaggeration to say that the buildings in Xisha Islands are all from bulk barges in Hainan Island.
People in southwest zhongsha islands regard the maritime traffic line as the "lifeline". The local government has taken effective measures to develop shipping. At present, two large passenger and cargo ships are mainly responsible for transportation, namely "Qiongsha Ship" and "Qiongsha No.2 Ship". The two ships shuttled back and forth, constantly transporting a lot of materials to the islands. The local government also encourages large and small fishing boats to undertake some scattered materials, especially the transportation tasks between islands.
The construction of ports and docks is very fast. Zhongsha islands, southwest of Qinglan, has a special wharf, and Yulin Port of Hainan Island has a special wharf. Yongxing Island, located at the transportation hub of each island, has a number of berths for 5000-ton passenger ships. The main islands are fishing ports and small and medium-sized docks to meet the needs of production development and construction.
In the late 1980s, in order to develop the economy of southwest zhongsha islands, the state invested and built a large airport in Yongxing Island. It can take off and land large passenger planes such as 737. Flights to Xisha take the form of non-scheduled flights or charter flights, and there are frequent flights to and from Xisha, which solves the transportation task of some people coming to the island and postal letters.
(6) Protecting the marine environment and marine resources
Southwest zhongsha islands has a long history of development. A long time ago, our people knew how to protect islands and make use of marine resources accordingly. For example, the reefs and trees planted on the beaches of many islands, as well as various terrestrial animals bred in captivity, have created a good ecological environment for the islands, which is a valuable legacy left by our ancestors to future generations. After the founding of New China, the protection of marine environment and natural resources in southwest zhongsha islands has received great attention and full support from relevant parties. At present, the environment of the islands and reefs in the southwest of zhongsha islands and its waters has been well protected. However, we can't ignore that some improper behaviors in marine fishing and island development have brought different degrees of damage to marine resources and ecological environment, and marine pollution has spread from inshore to deep sea. At the same time, the wastes produced by offshore shipping and deep-sea development also affect the natural environment of the ocean to varying degrees. In order to better develop, utilize and protect the ocean, the China government and the vast number of marine workers have continuously strengthened the research and protection of the ocean and continuously strengthened the marine protection measures. In southwest zhongsha islands, the nature reserves that have been demarcated and the protection projects that have been established mainly include:
1. East Island Bailingdao Nature Reserve. White boobies are all white, which fishermen call "bird white". Is the main bird in southwest zhongsha islands. Mainly concentrated in the East Island of Xisha Islands. White boobies are quite good at flying, leaving early and returning late, and their flight direction changes regularly with the monsoon. They are affectionately called "navigation birds" by fishermen. The navigation direction and island position can be determined according to the flight law of boobies. Since ancient times, 198 1 year has banned the killing of boobies among fishermen. China Municipal Government designated Dongdao as the White Carp Bird Nature Reserve. The Southwest zhongsha islands Office assigned special personnel to manage the island. A large number of people stationed on the island plant trees to provide habitats for birds and help young birds in windy seasons or rainy days; And educate passers-by to protect the ecological environment on birds and protect bird resources.
At present, the environment of Dongdao Baibonito Nature Reserve is excellent, and birds grow and reproduce as usual. There are more than 50 species of birds and about 30,000 white boobies on the island, which is a veritable seabird paradise.
2. Protect reef-building corals. Coral, which is a kind of lower animal in marine life, belongs to coelenterate. It grows in a tropical ocean with normal salinity, good transparency, water temperature above 65438 08℃ and shallow water surface. There is a very suitable environment for coral growth in southwest zhongsha islands. There are 40 genera 134 species and subspecies of reef-building corals. Coral preys on zooplankton from the ocean, absorbs nutrients, keeps growing and reproducing, secretes a calcareous substance from the body and leaves a calcareous exoskeleton when it dies. Coral reefs are formed by the deposition of these tiny corals for hundreds of years. Protecting corals is to provide favorable breeding environment and conditions for coral growth and promote the development of the topography of each island reef atoll.
Among the residents and fishermen in southwest zhongsha islands, protecting reef-building corals has become a long-term conscious action. Do not discharge production and domestic wastewater into coral reefs to protect clean seawater; Don't trample or collect corals on the reef plate of coral atoll. Reef-building corals in the islands and reefs in the southwest of zhongsha islands have been well protected.
3. Protect fish resources in fishing grounds. Fishery is the main industry in the economic development of southwest zhongsha islands. The vast sea area and abundant fish attract a large number of fishermen to work on the island every year. As China's offshore fishing technology is still relatively backward, the catch of zhongsha islands Fishing Ground in Southwest China is far from exceeding the regenerative capacity of fish resources. However, a large number of fishing, especially the concentrated fishing of some fish with high economic value, has reduced the fish resources and attracted the attention of relevant parties. The fishery administration department of Southwest zhongsha islands has continuously strengthened the education of fishermen coming to the island and the management of fishing grounds. It is strictly forbidden to catch and kill indiscriminately, and it is strictly forbidden to fry fish, poisonous fish and electric fish in fishing grounds.
4. Protect turtles. Turtle is one of the few marine reptiles and is a marine animal protected all over the world. Over the years, the government of China has listed sea turtles as the second-class national protected animals to be protected. It is forbidden to catch turtles, to buy or sell turtles, to collect turtle eggs, and to destroy the ecological environment of the sea areas and islands where turtles live. Nowadays, the southwest monsoon prevails in summer, and more and more turtles enter the southwest zhongsha islands from the waters near Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Malaysia with the southwest warm current. They mate on the island reef, climb the beach to lay eggs, and many of them stay on the island reef for the winter.
5. Protect rare marine animals in several countries. In southwest zhongsha islands, the above animals are listed as national first-class protected animals:
Red coral belongs to coelenterates. Like other corals, red coral is a lifelong aquatic type, and its skeleton is formed by mesothelium. Its bone is hard, its color is beautiful, it looks like a multi-branched tree, and its output is extremely rare. Can be used as high-grade decorations.
Ku's dragonflies belong to mollusks. The shell is large and thick, slightly triangular; There are high ridges on the shell surface, and there are overlapping scales on the ridges. The shell is glossy and smooth. Hard shell is one of the ancient Seven Treasures, which is as famous as gold and silver, stained glass, agate, coral, amber and pearl. Its meat can be eaten and it is a rare product.
Nautilus is a mollusk. Its shell is very big, and it has no top when it rotates horizontally. The surface is gray, and the inner mask is very beautiful pearl luster. Inhabit the bottom of the sea and swim in groups at night. Now it is one of the rare animals, which is difficult to catch.
(7) Welcome the bright future of marine development.
The ocean is called "2 1 century resources". With the development of economy and the improvement of human ability to understand and use the ocean, the value of the ocean is valued by more and more countries.
The ocean covers 7 1% of the earth and is a huge natural treasure house. The total amount of seawater accounts for 97% of the world's total water, and seawater resources are inexhaustible. Fish products, meat and beans constitute the three major sources of human supply in protein. The seabed contains more than 1/3 of the world's oil and gas, as well as trillions of tons of manganese nodules, which contain metals such as manganese, nickel, copper and cobalt. The ocean also has renewable energy. Such as wave energy, tidal energy, temperature difference energy and so on. In a word, marine resources are very rich. It has become a new goal of human development and a new field of competition among countries.
China is one of the world's maritime powers, with vast sea areas and considerable resources. Among them, South China Sea is the most important sea area in China. Recently, China has formulated the Ninth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development and the Outline of 20 10 Long-term Goals, pointing out that the development policy of China's marine industry is to strengthen the investigation of marine resources, develop marine industries and protect the marine environment. It can be seen that the accelerated development of marine economy will become an important part of our national economy, and the development, utilization and protection of marine resources in the South China Sea will greatly promote the sustainable development of our national economy.
The sea area under the jurisdiction of Hainan Province accounts for about two-thirds of China's marine area, which is rich in resources and plays a very important strategic role in the development of China's marine economy. At present, the large-scale development of marine resources is still limited by the economic base and marine development capacity of our province. However, accelerating the development of the South China Sea and building a maritime province have become the consensus of 7 million people in our province. Our province plans to make the output value of marine economy reach 654.38+0.5 billion yuan in the near future and 654.38+0.2 billion yuan in the long term. By 20 10, a diversified, large-scale and high-tech marine economic system will be built. This is the wish of the people of the whole province.
Exploitation of marine data in South China Sea, especially Xisha Islands, Nansha Islands and zhongsha islands. Utilization and protection are also hot spots in the world today. We must continue to adhere to the basic principle of rational development and protection of the ocean, develop the South China Sea and build a big marine province. On the one hand, it is necessary to strengthen marine awareness and carry out planned and scientific development and utilization of the ocean; On the other hand, we should strengthen marine protection measures. Including expanding marine nature reserves and establishing new protection projects to protect the marine environment and marine life in accordance with international conventions and agreements. It also includes strengthening contacts and cooperation with international organizations and non-governmental organizations, and seeking scientific methods for the protection and rational development of the oceans.
China has always adhered to the basic principle of peaceful use of the ocean. As a semi-enclosed sea, the South China Sea is facing the problem of delimitation of maritime boundaries with neighboring countries, especially the delimitation of exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. Our government has always advocated that relevant disputes should be properly resolved through peaceful negotiations in accordance with the basic principles and legal system established by universally recognized international law and modern law of the sea, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which came into effect on199416. All parties to a dispute should abide by the norms of international law governing relations between countries and the principle of peaceful settlement of disputes, so as to avoid complicating or expanding the issue. Before the settlement of the dispute, the China government put forward the idea of "shelving the dispute and jointly developing".
We are glad to see that with the coming of the 2 1 century, southwest zhongsha islands will usher in a prosperous and bright future of marine industry.