Last month, 175 whales were reported to have been killed off Denmark's Faroe Islands in June. The news aroused condemnation from various environmental organizations around the world.
The hunts has been practiced in the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic since about the time of the first Norsemen settled there which is approximately the 9th century. Around 800 long-finned pilot whales and some Atlantic white-sided dolphins are slaughtered annually during the summer season.
Japan, with a traditional whaling industry, once banned commercial whaling but still kills a large number of whales using the excuse of scientific research. A variety of whales are trapped and killed by Japan each year, including fin whales and sei whales, which are listed as endangered species.
Whale meat sushi
Actions of Denmark and Japan have reawakened the concern of whale and rare animal conservationists about protection of marine environment.
While some other countries are still crazy about whaling, an uninvited whale that appeared in the bay of a coastal city in China is attracting the attention of netizens.
An uninvited guest presents in Shenzhen
In late June, a Bryde’s whale appeared without expectation in Shenzhen’s Mirs Bay in Guangdong Province and quickly swum its way to celebrity status in social media across China, with netizens affectionately calling it "Xiaobu". It was the first time that Bryde’s whale had appeared in the waters of Guangdong since 2005. Local government, associating with relevant departments, responded quickly, taking a series of conservation measures through joint efforts, including set up a prohibited area on July 3 for boat tours and houseboats to protect the whale from unnecessary harm.
Guangdong is located in the South China Sea with the longest coastline in China at 4,314 kilometers. In recent years, Guangdong has long paid attention to marine environmental protection, and the proportion of the area with good water quality has increased year by year, reaching 89.5% in 2020.
It is worth mentioning that many of the fish living in Mirs Bay appear on the diet of Bryde's whales, which reflects the abundant fishery resources and the variety of marine life in the Bay. This is mainly due to the implementation of the summer fishing moratorium policy in the South China Sea. Fishing off season is usually set in summer from May 1 to August 16, an important period for the growth and reproduction of major fish in the ocean.
The whale has been living in Shenzhen since June 29. (Photo: Zhu Hongbo)
a Bryde’s whale appeared without expectation in Shenzhen’s Mirs Bay in Guangdong ProvinceGuangdong Marine Law Enforcement Corps has strengthened patrolling during fishing off season in recent years. As of mid-June, the Corps had dealt with more than 500 cases of violations of the fishing moratorium and seized more than 70,000 kilograms of catch.
Practical policy to guarantee marine biodiversity in China
Guangdong Province is a typical example of China's emphasis on marine environmental protection.
China has carried out the policies of breeding and releasing fish since the 1970s, with the aim of balancing the sustainable development of fishery and marine ecology. Like saying, in 2008, Guangdong started the custom of releasing fish on June 6, which is considered as a lucky day in China and especially falls in the fishing off season. Tons of fish fry are released into the ocean during this period, so fish reproduction could be multiplied. The custom then spread across the country and in 2015, June 6 became an official day for coastal cities across the whole country to release fish fry.
June 6 has become an official day for coastal cities across the whole country to release fish fry. (Photo: Wu Hongwei)
Efforts have been seen in 2020, China's total output of aquaculture has reached over 52 million tons, accounting for more than 79 percent of China's total output of aquatic products. China's total amount of farmed aquatic products exceeds the total amount of fish caught.
By the end of 2019, China had established 271 marine reserves, covering a total area of about 124,000 square kilometers, with a focus on natural ecosystems and rare and endangered creatures in them. It falls short of the Convention on Biological Diversity's goal of "protecting 10% of the world's coasts and oceans", however, the number of protected areas is growing rapidly.
China always looks for the balance between human and nature
While developing infrastructure, China has also been seeking a balance between human and nature. Back in 2018, Chinese builders reduced the number of piers on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge from 318 to 224 in order to protect the endangered Chinese white dolphins. The reduction of 94 piers has contributed to the result of zero casualties for the dolphins.
Chinese white dolphins live happily near the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. (Photo: Qian Wenpan)
Marine environment and marine life protections have always been the focus of controversy globally. More than 30 percent of seabirds are threatened with extinction, and the cost of overfishing reaches over 88.9 billion dollars a year, according to The Second World Ocean Assessment released by the UN this year.
China has been criticized by some media for its marine environmental protection. However, the natural resources, such as forest and ocean in China, has been greatly improved under the long-term governance of Chinese government over the years. The appearance of the Bryde’s whale in Mirs Bay is one of the best proofs of it.
Furthermore, more than 200 dolphins jumped in with an appearance in the sea area near Shantou, a city in east Guangdong in June this year.
Marine environmental maintanance has always been a common problem faced by all mankind. It is an issue that needs to be addressed, not just in Denmark, Japan, or China, but all around the world. It should be noted that the protection of marine life is an important link in the protection of all marine ecological environments. The future of the ocean depends on the attitudes and practices of every government, international organization and individual.
Author: Kelly Ye, Emma Feng
Editor: Wing Zhang, Jerry Gray, Steven Yuen, Alice Fung