自然资源部南海局于8月14日正式发布《2025年南海区海洋生态预警监测公报》和《海洋生态保护修复公报》，首次集中展示西沙、中沙、南沙9个岛礁的生态系统状况 [1]。根据评估，这些岛礁生态整体优良但各具差异 [1]。
西沙四座环礁生态状况整体优良，虽然活珊瑚覆盖率整体偏低，但恢复态势良好 [1]。其中黄岩岛是评估重点，岛内造礁石珊瑚共135种，潟湖内海草床面积约1.85平方公里，盖度达19.2% [1]；黄岩岛保护区的活珊瑚覆盖率达到38.8% [1]。相比之下，南沙岛礁生态状况分化明显，仙宾礁和牛轭礁的活珊瑚覆盖率分别为24.7%和37.7% [1]，而铁线礁的活珊瑚覆盖面积较2016年下降近七成 [1]。
为加强海洋生态保护修复，2025年南海区实施海洋生态修复工程项目66个，总投入资金近50亿元 [1]。十四五期间，累计实施海洋生态保护修复项目262个，总投入资金超过213亿元 [1]。截至2025年底，南海区共划定海洋生态保护红线面积约266万公顷、海洋自然保护地面积约700万公顷 [1]。
China's Ministry of Natural Resources South China Sea Bureau officially released two comprehensive reports on August 14, providing the nation's first detailed evaluation of the ecological systems across nine islands and reefs in the South China Sea [1]. The agency unveiled the 2025 South China Sea Marine Ecological Early Warning and Monitoring Report and the Marine Ecological Protection and Restoration Report, presenting the authentic ecological landscape of the Xisha, Zhongsha, and Nansha archipelagos [1].
The assessments reveal that while ecological conditions across the surveyed islands are generally favorable, significant variations exist among them [1]. The four atolls of Xisha demonstrate overall good ecological status, with live coral coverage showing a low but improving trend [1]. Huangyan Island, in particular, hosts 135 reef-building coral species and features approximately 1.85 square kilometers of seagrass beds within its lagoon, achieving a coverage density of 19.2 percent [1]. The protected area around Huangyan Island has achieved a live coral coverage rate of 38.8 percent [1]. By contrast, the South China Sea islands display more pronounced ecological differentiation, with live coral coverage rates of 24.7 percent at Xianbing Reef and 37.7 percent at Niuyoke Reef [1]. Notably, Tiexian Reef experienced a dramatic decline in live coral coverage area of nearly 70 percent compared to 2016 levels [1].
China is undertaking substantial efforts to restore and protect these marine ecosystems. In 2025 alone, 66 marine ecological restoration engineering projects are being implemented with a total investment of nearly 5 billion yuan [1]. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, a cumulative 262 marine ecological protection and restoration projects have been undertaken, representing total investments exceeding 21.3 billion yuan [1]. As of the end of 2025, the South China Sea region has designated approximately 2.66 million hectares as marine ecological protection red lines and approximately 7 million hectares as marine nature reserves [1].