Dongsha Atoll National Park

Dongsha Atoll National Park is a protected marine area within the Pratas Islands in Taiwan, covering a ring-shaped coral formation in the South China Sea. The reserve includes shallow lagoons, fringing reefs in different growth stages, and seagrass meadows that form a mosaic of habitats supporting migratory fish, turtles and sharks.

Authorities designated this area as a protected zone in 2007, making it the seventh national park in Taiwan and the first focused entirely on marine conservation. Before gaining protected status, the atoll had served as a navigation landmark and guano mining site until ecological priorities took precedence over extraction activities.

The atoll once served as a guano mining site before its transformation into a protected zone. Today its name Dongsha refers to Eastern Sand, reflecting the shallow sandbanks that surround the reef and make this place a vital reference point for marine ecology studies across the region.

Entry to the atoll requires advance permission from authorities, as the area prioritizes ecological monitoring and habitat recovery over public visits. Those granted access should prepare for limited infrastructure and bring all necessary supplies, respecting the fragile marine environment throughout their stay.

The shallow waters host extensive seagrass beds that function as nurseries for juvenile lemon sharks, which often spend their early months patrolling these meadows. Green sea turtles also graze here, making the atoll a critical link in marine population connectivity across the wider South China Sea basin.