In recent years, however, Wu’s communication with Chinese fishery departments has given him more hope for the situation because of increasing attention and support from government authorities to environmental conservation. “We used to look at the ocean from a utilitarian angle, seeing it as a resource for economic benefits,” explains Wu, “but today, many people have shifted focus to recognize the need for protection of the marine environment. Recently, the government has enacted a series of laws and regulations, such as fishing moratoriums in certain areas.”

Wu doesn’t consider himself an extreme environmentalist. He believes that although it is important to protect the natural environment, the livelihood of its human inhabitants deserves equal attention, so a balance is needed. In this vein, Wu likes the concept of artificial reefs which has been promoted by many local fishery departments because they serve marine life, improve local oceanic environments, and activate nutrients by altering underwater currents so that fish populations can increase and bring better incomes to fishermen. “This measure has been widely adopted in many countries already,” he insists. “It can effectively decrease the need for extensive vehicle use for fishing, and ultimately aid in conserving marine life.”