The monitoring survey and health assessment for benthic community were carried out in Luhuitou fringing reef of Sanya, Hainan, China in 2002. Monitoring survey included manta tow, line intercept transect, video transect and digital photograph. The mean live coral cover was 23.40%. Comparison of used monitoring methods showed that video transect can replace line intercept transect, and 50 m transect is better than 20 m transect in uneven coral region. Survey data and comparison with previous research work showed that Luhuitou fringing reef has been damaged severely and has a general declining trend with live coral cover from about 85% in the 1960s down to 20% in 2004, but it still has quite high biodiversity and therefore has special protection value. Main factors of Luhuitou fringing reef declining were human activities including reef rock digging and curios collecting, destructive fishing, sediment and pollutant from coastal land, and recent marine aquaculture. Only strengthening integrated management can reach improvement and restoration of Luhuitou declining coral reef ecosystem. The monitoring survey and health assessment for benthic community were carried out in Luhuitou fringing reef of Sanya, Hainan, China in 2002. Monitoring monitor included manta tow, line intercept transect, video transect and digital photograph. The mean live coral cover was 23.40%. Comparison of used monitoring methods showed that video transect can replace line intercept transect, and 50 m transect is better than 20 m transect in uneven coral region. Survey data and comparison with previous research work showing that Luhuitou fringing reef has been damaged severely and has a general declining trend with live coral cover from about 85% in the 1960s down to 20% in 2004, but it still has quite high biodiversity and therefore has special protection value. Main factors of Luhuitou fringing reef declining were human activities including reef rock digging and curios collecting, destructive fishing, sediment and pollutant from coastal land, and recent marine aquaculture. Only strengthening inte grated management can reach improvement and restoration of luhuitou declining coral reef ecosystem.