An aerial drone photo taken on May 13, 2024 shows the vessel "China Coast Guard (CCG) 3502" carrying out replenishment for other vessels in the South China Sea. The CCG conducted a regular training during operations of rights protection and law enforcement in the waters of Huangyan Dao.(Photo: Xinhua)
The China Coast Guard (CCG) held a special maritime law enforcement briefing on Sunday, providing an overview of its 2024 efforts on maritime law enforcement and introducing plans for 2025. In response to recent foreign media speculations over the "South China Sea ecological environment," CCG spokesperson Liu Dejun responded to a question from a Global Times reporter and introduced the CCG's efforts to protect marine ecosystems, particularly in the South China Sea.
He said that in 2024, the CCG stepped up its efforts to combat illegal fishing and poaching of endangered species in the South China Sea, uncovering a series of cases involving foreign fishing vessels engaged in electric fishing, coral poaching, and the capture of Tridacna clams.
According to a Reuters report on Thursday, the Philippines will soon decide on an international platform to sue China for alleged damage to the marine environment, its justice minister said, as it pursues a second high-profile legal challenge against Beijing over the South China Sea.
"The CCG regards protecting the marine ecological environment and building a beautiful ocean as its mission, strengthens patrol and control over key maritime areas, critical periods, and important targets," Liu said.
Liu told the Global Times that the CCG collaborates every year with departments such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment to carry out special law enforcement actions under the "Blue Sea" initiative for marine ecological protection and resource development, and special law enforcement operations for the marine seasonal moratorium on fishing, and cracks down on illegal fishing, illegal waste disposal, and hunting of precious and endangered wildlife.
"In 2024, we have further increased efforts to protect marine resources and the ecological environment, coordinating the use of ships, aircraft, and personnel, establishing a three-dimensional supervision model with land-based inspections, maritime patrols, and aerial monitoring. We are also enhancing remote sensing monitoring of important marine protected areas, such as coastlines and islands, using satellite remote sensing and other information technologies," Liu said.
He further noted that, especially in the South China Sea, the CCG has intensified efforts to combat illegal fishing and poaching of endangered species, with over 500 vessels detained for various violations throughout the year, and discovered and expelled over 1,700 times of foreign fishing vessels engaged in illegal fishing, 15 vessels have been confiscated, and a foreign fishing vessel suspected of using electric fishing was intercepted. Additionally, a foreign fishing vessel was caught poaching coral, with over 1,200 live coral specimens and large quantities of Tridacna shells seized.
"Moving forward, the CCG will continue to strengthen efforts to protect the marine ecological environment, enhance patrol enforcement in key areas, improve aerial inspections, and promote the application of satellite remote sensing to detect and deal with violations damaging marine resources and ecosystems, making contributions to the construction of a beautiful ocean," Liu said.
