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The Yellow Sea is unusual because it is a relatively enclosed sea and home to a number of endemic fish and invertebrates. The Yellow (Huanghai) Sea is one of the largest areas of continental shelf covered in shallow water in the world. It provides the major overwintering ground for many species of fish and invertebrates.
The Yellow Sea is partly enclosed by coastlines, and its depth is only 250 feet (80m). Although warm currents are present, the water becomes cold and rough during monsoons and some sections turn into ice fields in the winter. The sea's surface temperature can change as much as 50º F (10º C) from one season to the next, and salinity levels often fluctuate.
The Yellow Sea supports dugong, Dall's and harbor porpoises, as well as many different fish, including chub, Spanish mackerel, and Pacific herring. Newly discovered species of goby fish are present here as well. The sea is also home to leatherback, green, hawksbill, and Ridley turtles. Many endemic fish and endemic invertebrates, such as Chinese mitten crabs, live here.
Industrial pollution, agricultural runoff, and domestic sewage contaminate coastal waters and habitats. Pollutants include contaminants ranging from organic chemicals (PCBs and DDT) to tar and heavy metals. Contaminants such as these can degrade slowly and may work their way up the food chain all the way to humans, where they can accumulate in dangerous amounts. In addition, the building of dams and the diversion of water threaten the flow of sediments and nutrients.
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