Islands 'patron' looks to safer, greener environment

The sea has been a pivotal part of Wang Chun's career since 1993 and his tide of progress has seen him now lead a work team that governs a slew of islands and waters. His role has earned him the affectionate title of "Patron of the Islands" from his colleagues.

The group he is responsible for within the Xisha Islands is called Qilianyu, "seven islands in a string".

Qilianyu forms a special part of Sansha city's administration because Wang's committee combines five organs in one – a police station, border defense branch, law enforcement workstation, militia command and a medical, rescue and aid center.

Wang is often the first person that officials visiting the islands turn to. There they are guaranteed a friendly welcome by Wang whose deeply tanned complexion shows he is a man who enjoys the outdoor life, an impression enhanced by his favorite attire of a wide-brimmed hat and all-weather jacket.

Wang and the islanders are at the forefront of protecting the ecology of the South China Sea by regulating fishing activities.

They have also encountered, and firmly dealt with, illegal fishing by foreign ships from neighboring countries.

Illegal fishing? This is not innocent fly-cast fishing. The crews on board these vessels often use dynamite to kill the fish and the explosions cause immense damage to the fragile marine ecology.

"The ecology here is very vulnerable, and recovery is extremely difficult,'' Wang said.

For centuries, the islands have played a crucial part both in the work and lives of Chinese fishermen. Wang likes to show visitors a traditional temple frequented by fishermen on Zhaoshu Island for blessings before they went out on the perilous sea.

Another must-see place is the old office of the village committee, a bungalow built in the 1970s just a few meters away from the new committee building, a testament to China's unbroken presence and jurisdiction.

Partly because of shrinking fishery resources, traditional fishermen on the islands have been encouraged to shift to other sectors, according to Wang.

"Some fishermen have become cooks and yacht captains, some work in the power plants, and some nurture pearls and seashells for scientific institutions," Wang said.

The islands may be remote but they are connected. They are fully covered by a cellular network and the meeting room on the second floor of the committee building has a videoconferencing system.

As the annual typhoon season – usually from June to October – is around the corner, Wang said they had a contingency plan in place and the building could function as a shelter for the residents.

"In the past, we transferred the island residents to nearby Yongxing Island. Now there is no need as our building integrates the five stations," Wang said.

Wang said his committee sends extreme weather alerts to the residents and fishing boats will be taken onshore. Island life is not all sunshine and anyone who knows these waters realizes that storms can break out any time. The man with the wide-brimmed hat seems ready for any situation.