Heritage protection zones will be set up along the reefs of the Paracel Islands, Hainan's provincial government said yesterday.
The move follows Beijing's announcement last Thursday that a new city, named Sansha, will administer three island chains in the South China Sea and strengthen China's sovereignty claims.
Hainan's authorities said four heritage protection zones will be set up at North Reef, Discovery Reef, Vuladdore Reef and Crescent Reef in the Paracel Islands, also known as the Xisha Islands on the mainland.
These are part of efforts to step up protection of underwater cultural relics from theft or damage.
The provincial government will work with the public security authorities in enforcing Chinese cultural protection laws.
The waters encompassed by Sansha - which administers the Spratly, Paracel and Macclesfield Bank island chains - comprise key sections of the maritime Silk Road to Guangzhou along the continent's coast, dating back some 2,000 years.
Among researchers' findings include a ship that sunk 800 years ago, as well as ancient porcelain and copper coins.