From seasick 'landlubber' to guardian of sea: Shi Xiaojun's dedication to coral reef conservation

A senior engineer at the South China Sea Ecological Center under China's Ministry of Natural Resources, Shi Xiaojun was once anything but a natural at sea. On his first offshore trip, the rough waves left him severely seasick. But everything changed when he dived beneath the surface and came face-to-face with the dazzling world of coral reefs.

That first encounter planted a promise in his heart: to protect these vibrant marine ecosystems.

Over the past 17 years, Shi has braved seasickness, the fear of deep dives, painful stings from venomous marine spines and life-threatening storms to study and safeguard coral reefs across the South China Sea.

Working with his team, he helped compile a guide book, documenting more than 170 species of reef-building corals in the areas of Nansha Qundao. He also led the development of China's first coral reef ecological database and monitoring system, as well as the country’s first high-resolution map of coral reef resources.

Beyond fieldwork, Shi has helped develop new technologies for ecological early-warning, monitoring and disaster prevention, strengthening efforts to protect coral reefs, while he has also led efforts to establish industry standards, including technical guidelines for coral reef surveys and assessments.

(Photos via the South China Sea Bureau of the Ministry of Natural Resources unless otherwise stated)