The Xiaoliuqiu Marine Volunteers Team has removed the equivalent of "10 elephants" worth of marine debris in 6 years

▲ The Xiaoliuqiu Marine Volunteers Team.


▲ In the past few years, they have carried out 200 dives to clean the sea, removing a total of 30 tons of marine waste.




Every Wednesday at 12:30 noon in Xiaoliuqiu, you can witness this scene: a group of people carrying oxygen tanks and wearing wetsuits head out to sea. About an hour later, the boat returns to the harbor loaded with orange barrels full of waste. After docking, the waste is first moved ashore, then the team snacks to recharge before weighing the debris and finally sorting it by type.

Volunteers in the marine cleanup team have given themselves marine animal nicknames to feel closer to the ocean—clownfish, swordfish, great white sharks—these are the code names of the team members. The team leader, Li Zhongzhen, nicknamed Dragon King Grouper, is the soul of the group. Dragon King Grouper said he started because he used to take tourists on snorkeling and diving trips,and once saw a green sea turtle entangled in fishing nets and dead on the seabed. “Fishermen aren’t targeting the turtles, but if there were no abandoned nets in the ocean, would this have happened?”


▲ A sea turtle killed by getting tangled in fishing nets. (Photo / Marine Volunteers Team; provided by Huang Xiaomo’s Travel Life)

Xiaoliuqiu, where residents used to rely mainly on fishing, was not initially aware of the state of marine ecology, so fishermen often discarded nets indiscriminately. Although laws now prohibit gillnetting within three nautical miles, abandoned nets still remain in the sea. Over time, nets became entangled with coral, and years of accumulated trash spread throughout the waters.

Over the six years of cleanups, as of June 8, 2016, the Xiaoliuqiu Marine Volunteers Team had conducted 207 dives to clean the sea. Each time, after observing the current direction, they choose dive sites and spend one tank of air per dive. Once underwater, they search for debris, then remove fishing nets and lines entangled in coral, as well as other waste on the seabed, either by hand or using tools.

Dragon King Grouper said the types of marine waste are varied, but the most common are fishing nets tangled around coral. “When we first started diving six years ago, there were so many nets everywhere in the sea.” Coral covered by nets quickly loses vitality, and once the coral dies, fish can no longer survive. For a time, the near-shore waters of Xiaoliuqiu lost their color.


▲ A turtle trapped by discarded nets. (Photo / Marine Volunteers Team; provided by Huang Xiaomo’s Travel Life)


Most volunteers in the Xiaoliuqiu Marine Volunteers Team work in the homestay industry. The cost of fuel for each outing comes out of their own pockets, and most of the equipment is self-provided. Only the mid-dive snacks are sponsored by local Xiaoliuqiu shops. From the early days of diving through nets to seeing the ocean grow cleaner and corals come back to life, along with policy restrictions on net use, the volunteers feel there is less debris underwater.

“Marine cleanups really do make a difference. In recent years, there are more and more little fish in the sea.” They’ve found everything from bicycles and traffic cones to clothes, bottles, and all kinds of bizarre waste. On recent dives, they’ve had to search carefully just to find any trash.Along the way, Dragon King Grouper summed up the team’s efforts in three words: “It’s worth it!”

As for how regular travelers can help, Dragon King Grouper said the Xiaoliuqiu Marine Volunteers Team doesn’t want anything,except for visitors not to litter, not to step on or touch fish or coral reefs while diving—that’s the most helpful contribution they can make.

Properly dispose of any trash you bring.


How to help the Xiaoliuqiu Marine Volunteers Team?
1. Do not litter; always take your trash with you
2. When visiting Xiaoliuqiu, use eco-friendly utensils and bring your own toiletries like toothbrushes and toothpaste
3. Do not touch coral reefs, turtles, or fish while diving
4. Avoid using sunscreen when snorkeling or diving to prevent harm to marine ecosystems