The 2024 "World Oceans Day and National Marine Billboard Day" series of activities were held by Guangxi University on Weizhou Island, Beihai

World Oceans Day and National Marine Billboard Day is an important window for the practice and dissemination of Xi Jinping thought on ecological civilization, as well as marine policy interpretation, marine knowledge popularization, marine culture inheritance, and enhancing public marine awareness and wisdom of harmonious co-existence between humans and nature.

June 8, 2024 is the 16th "World Oceans Day" and the 17th " National Marine Billboard Day ". The theme of this celebration is "New Depth Awaken to Reappearance Coral Sea". On the morning of June 7, a series of activities were held at the South Bay Marine-Sports-Base on Weizhou Island and the coral reef restoration area on the north of island. That event was hosted by Guangxi University and Oceanic Administration of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, organized by School of Marine Sciences at Guangxi University, Guangxi Laboratory on the Study of Coral Reef in the SCS and the Management Committee of Weizhou Island Tourist Attraction, Beihai.

The activities mainly included 4 parts:

“Seeking national prosperity and strength from the ocean” Achievements Press Ceremony

Beach Cleanup

“Adopt a Coral” and planting corals fragments underwater

2024 Guangxi Coral Watch Opening Ceremony and Volunteer Certificate Awarding Ceremony

Deputy Director Lu Jinxu of the Management Committee of Weizhou Island Tourist Attraction delivered a speech. He congratulated and thanked the School of Marine Sciences at Guangxi University for its remarkable achievements in coral reef research and ecological restoration. Lu Jinxu highlighted the key role of oceans and coral reefs in marine carbon storage and carbon cycles, as well as current crises. He also emphasized Weizhou Island, with its unique resources’ advantages, and called on everyone to start with themselves, pay attention to the ocean and cherish to protect coral reefs. Dr. Huang Wen, Director of the Coral Reef Museum on Weizhou island of the School of Marine Sciences at Guangxi University, introduced the remarkable achievements of our team on coral reef protection and restoration, marine environmental monitoring etc., which contributed to the development of marine research in Guangxi and nationwide. Liu Qiulin, General Manager of Beihai Xinyi Cruise Co., Ltd., and Li Wu, Secretary General of the Diving Association in Weizhou Island, respectively introduced to the attendees of their respective organizations' active involvement in Beach Cleanup and ocean protection public welfare activities. During the discussion session, individuals from all walks of life offered suggestions for coral reef protection, shared the effects of coral protection science popularization and ecological restoration, and discussed future sustainable initiatives.

Lu Jinxu (left), Deputy Director of of the Management Committee of Weizhou Island Tourist Attraction, and Huang Wen (right), Director of the Coral Reef Museum on Weizhou island of the School of Marine Sciences at Guangxi University, delivered speeches.

Liu Qiulin (left), General Manager of Beihai Xinyi Cruise Co., Ltd., and Li Wu (right), Secretary General of the Diving Association in Weizhou Island, delivered speeches.

Event Site

After the opening ceremony, a "Beach Cleanup" was held at the South Bay Marine-Sports-Base on Weizhou Island. More than 20 volunteers equipped with cleaning tools and worked in groups to collect and sort discarded waste along the shoreline. They popularized the new concept of "sustainable travel" to tourists, residents and businesses on the island, calling on everyone to change poor habits, improve the environmental quality of Weizhou Island, known as the "Most Beautiful Island", and encourage everyone to take action to protect the marine ecological environment of Weizhou Island.

Volunteers carried out the "Beach Cleanup"

Popularize the concept of "sustainable travel" to tourists

At the event site, Li Yuxiao from the Coral Reef Museum on Wezhou island of the School of Marine Sciences at Guangxi University invited guests to join the “Coral Protection Plan of Weizhou Island”. The Plan launches “Adopt a Coral” activity and relies on the successful coral reef restoration and cultivation technology of the School of Marine Sciences in water field of Weizhou Island. It mobilizes societal efforts to jointly engage in coral conservation, aiming for widespread public education, protection and participation. Li Yuxiao led the leaders and guests on the scene to personally fix the baby corals onto coral nurseries and naming them. Afterwards, Dr. Huang Wen, Director of the Coral Reef Museum on Weizhou island of the School of Marine Sciences at Guangxi University, led professional divers to plant the corals in the restoration waters of Weizhou Island. Through "Adopt a Coral" activity, participants had the opportunity to personally experience the importance of coral protection, enhanced their awareness and sense of responsibility towards marine ecological conservation, promoted coral conservation efforts and public engagement.

Li Yuxiao introduced the process and significance of the "Adopt a Coral" activity

"Adopt a Coral" activity

Planting adopted corals in the restoration area

This event also held 2024 Guangxi Coral Watch Opening Ceremony and Volunteer Certificate Awarding Ceremony, which shows the emphasis and concern on the coral reef environment in Guangxi. We hope to better protect and restore the ecosystem of the Beibu Gulf through the “Guanxi Coral Watch”.

Certificates were awarded to the volunteers of “Guanxi Coral Watch”

Text by: Zhou Jian, Li Yuxiao, Qin Bo  

Photos by: Sun Feilong, Wei Tingyu