Rare marine species reclaim ocean paradise in S China

In Qinzhou, an important port city that connects south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region with ASEAN countries, the port construction process has not been very smooth despite its favorable geographical location, primarily due to the presence of dolphins.

In 2005, the planning for Qinzhou Port was adjusted westward to move the port area further from the habitat of the Chinese white dolphins, even though that significantly increased the cost of port construction.

Four years later, a new road was built that only served to separate the port's industrial zone from the conservation area for the dolphins. Additionally, a project with an investment of 3.8 billion yuan (about $532.6 million) near Sanniang Bay in Qinzhou was also halted to prioritize the conservation of the dolphins.

The Chinese white dolphin, an endangered species under first-class national protection in China, was included on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species in 2008. Sanniang Bay, located along the Beibu Gulf in the South China Sea, is dubbed the "hometown of the Chinese white dolphins."

Pan Yue, a researcher at the Chinese white dolphin conservation center located at Sanniang Bay, was ready to drive a mini speedboat out to sea early before the sun rose above the horizon. 

"The time before sunrise and after sunset is best for going out to sea to observe the Chinese white dolphins. We spend about 180 days a year at sea for observation, so that we can accurately understand the habits of the species," Pan said.

In 2004, a scientific research team from Peking University established the center for the conservation of Chinese white dolphins in Sanniang Bay Village. The team's research findings indicate that the population of Chinese white dolphins living in Sanniang Bay sees new dolphin cubs every year, suggesting high reproductive potential.

"There were only about 96 Chinese white dolphins in the area in 2004, but thankfully, the number has grown to nearly 300 now," Pan added, noting that the awareness of dolphin protection has also significantly increased among the locals.

Bryde's whales, another national first-class protected aquatic animal mainly living in tropical and subtropical waters, are now frequently spotted preying on fish in the waters near Weizhou Island in the Beibu Gulf.

Chen Mo, an associate researcher from the Guangxi Academy of Sciences, has been studying the species in the area since 2016. "We identified only about 10 individuals in the population of Bryde's whales from 2016 to 2018. Now, the number has exceeded 60 and continues to grow," Chen said.

To maintain clean waters and preserve the island's ecological environment, the municipal government of Beihai City in Guangxi issued a regulation in July 2018, explicitly prohibiting the use of disposable food containers, non-degradable plastic bags, and plastic films on Weizhou Island.

"The Beibu Gulf boasts various endangered animals and plants and diverse marine ecosystems. Due to its natural conditions and less disturbance caused by coastal economic activities, the biodiversity in the region is being well-preserved," said Guan Jieyao, director of the laboratory of Guangxi Beibu Gulf marine biodiversity conservation under Beibu Gulf University.

Ning Yun, deputy director and chief engineer of Guangxi's department of ecology and environment, said that the marine ecological environment in Guangxi was continuously improving in 2023.

"We will continue to monitor the status of typical marine ecosystems such as mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs, and further expand the survey of important marine indicator species such as Chinese white dolphins and Bryde's whales, and of fishery biodiversity," Ning said.