The Spratly Islands: a marine park alternative

Abstract

Most of the concern over the Spratlys islands has centered on potential resources to be gained by extraction from the area. In reality, the most important long-term resources to be had from the Spratlys may be those which are already being used —the larvae of fish and invertebrates which the Spratlys apparently supply to heavily fished waters elsewhere around the South China Sea. These larvae may be the key to the simplest and most equitable solution to the Spratly Islands issue, the creation of an international marine reserve.