Sea turtles are a Class I nationally protected animal in China. There are seven existing species of sea turtles worldwide, five of which are distributed in China's sea areas. As temperatures rise, the Xisha Sea Area of Sansha City, China's southernmost city, has entered the peak breeding season for green sea turtles. On the evening of July 13th, a patrol officer on North Island, Sansha City, discovered a green sea turtle laying eggs during the patrol.