They are important habitats for different types of organisms, including migrating birds and marine fauna such as clams, crabs, octopuses, and snails.

[1] Getbols support endangered species of migratory birds on their route across the Yellow Sea, as stopover sites on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway.

There were 22 IUCN Red List species recorded as visitors, including the critically endangered spoon-billed sandpiper.

Still, there are some risks that are posed to the environment by activities such as dredging of port and sea lanes, construction of land-to-island and island-to-island bridges, development of offshore wind-power generation, mining of marine aggregates, introduction of harmful or marine ecosystem disturbing species, and fishing activities of locals.

The most detrimental activity is land reclamation, but such actions are strictly banned in the World Heritage Sites.