The South China Sea — one of the world's most contested bodies of water — contains extraordinary marine biodiversity, including the Coral Triangle's edge. Territorial disputes, unregulated fishing, and island construction have created a humanitarian and ecological crisis with profound welfare implications for marine wildlife.
The South China Sea is one of the world's most heavily overfished regions. Illegal fishing practices with major welfare impacts: cyanide fishing (sodium cyanide squirted onto reefs to stun fish for live trade — kills coral polyps and non-target species); blast fishing (dynamite concussive waves kill all fish in affected area, including non-target species — many die slowly from internal injuries); and fine-mesh trawling that captures juvenile fish and bycatch species including sea turtles and marine mammals.
Green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles nest on South China Sea islands and feed on seagrass and coral. Both species face: illegal collection for meat and shell trade (hawksbill tortoiseshell); entanglement in fishing gear; nest disturbance on protected islands; and degraded foraging habitat from reef destruction and seagrass loss. Chinese fishing vessels have been documented collecting sea turtles at scale from protected areas.
Whale shark aggregation sites in the South China Sea — near the Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia — attract both ecotourism and illegal fishing. Whale sharks (up to 12m) are killed for their fins and meat in some fisheries. Ecotourism disturbance causes behavioral changes — sharks dive deeper and spend less time feeding when boats and swimmers approach too closely. Best-practice guidelines limiting encounter numbers and approaches protect individual welfare.