(Eastday.com, English version)
Xiamen sees rise in white dolphins
2011-01-23 09:58
XIAMEN City's efforts to reduce pollution and improve the ecosystem off its coast has started to pay dividends as more endangered Chinese white dolphins have been spotted in inshore areas in the past few years.
"More than 30 dolphins appeared in one group in Wuyuan Bay last month," said Chen Bingyu, from the Xiamen Precious and Rare Marine Species Reserve Management Office. "It's the first time in more than 20 years."
Zhou Lumin, deputy chief of the Xiamen Municipal Oceanic and Fishery Administration, said with more dolphins appearing it's "time for the city to develop dolphin watching tours."
The Chinese white dolphin, also known as the giant panda of the sea, lives mainly around waters off the coast of Xiamen, Fujian Province, and the Pearl River estuary in southern China. It is a mammal under first-class state protection.
In the 1960s and early 1970s, it was not unusual for residents to see pods of dolphins frolic in the sea.
However, Chen said, exploitation and pollution of the ecosystem drove the dolphins far away.
In 1994, Xiamen issued its first rules on the use of sea areas, which included regulations on conservation of Chinese white dolphins.
In 1997, a Chinese white dolphin reserve measuring 5,500 hectares was set up in Xiamen to try to lure back the rare mammals.
Efforts have also been made to improve and restore the marine ecosystem around Xiamen since the mid-1990s.
Chen said they are seeing the results of these policies.
"The number of dolphins around Xiamen has been increasing steadily since 2005," said Chen, adding this was based on data collected from marine monitoring stations.
Zhou said they will set up observation spots so people can watch the dolphins.
Zhou added they hope the move will encourage people to do more to protect the sea.
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