Shenzhen sets up temporary protection zone for Bryde’s whale swimming off the southern Chinese coast
- The whale has been hovering in the nearby waters for almost two months
- It has caught the public’s imagination with news reports and social media pictures and videos circulating
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The zone, which will be effective from this week until the whale leaves, covers 64 square kilometres in Dapeng Bay, close to the Dapeng district in Shenzhen and is subject to change based on the whale’s movements, according to an official notice from the Administration of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Shenzhen.
During this time, yachts, recreational and tourism vessels, motorboats and sailboards will not be allowed inside the zone, fishing boats will be prohibited from operating in the area. Engineering ships, oil tankers and container boats that pass by the area must sail at a low speed and look out for the whale in advance, it said.
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Guardians of the Bryde's whales off south China’s Weizhou Island
“The fishery bureau will hold any boats or people who break these regulations accountable,” the notice said.
The annual three-and-a-half-month fishing ban just ended at noon on Monday. Hundreds of fishing boats had set sail off the coast in Shenzhen on that day.
The whale was first spotted in Dapeng Bay on June 29. A video that circulated online showed seagulls flying around a whale, visible above the water.
Since then, it has been resting and feeding in the area and was also spotted in Hong Kong waters.
Bryde’s whales are marked by three ridges on the top. Its back is a darker grey, its abdomen is white but sometimes pink. These whales live in the tropical and temperate ocean zones. In China, they are commonly seen close to Weizhou island in Beihai, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
Ma Haipeng, the Executive Secretary-General of Shenzhen Blue Ocean Conservation Association, applauded the Shenzhen government’s decision to set up a protection zone.
“Being able to make temporary regulatory policies just for one whale shows the care and warmth of a city,” he said.
“The decision is also applauded by many in the public. This shows the government really listened to the people and took responsibility.”
He hopes the government can also consider increasing subsidies to the fishermen and other industries or companies that might be affected by the zone so that protecting the whale does not mean sacrificing the profits of these groups.
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Since the whale has been spotted, the Dapeng district government established a new headquarters that included officials, research agencies and NGOs to discuss protection measures, Ma said. He has also been deeply involved in communicating with and lobbying the government.
In the past month, local authorities have been warning people to keep a safe distance from the whale, increased patrolling in the area, and volunteers have been cleaning trash and fishing nets in the area.
The Dapeng headquarter has also been sharing information with neighbouring Huizhou and Hong Kong governments, calling for cooperation, Ma said.
Last month, the Hong Kong Environmental Protection Association also issued a statement calling for the public and boats to keep a distance from the whale and refrain from feeding it.
