Three coastal cities in Fujian province—Xiamen, Quanzhou, and Zhangzhou—have established a collaborative alliance aimed at protecting the Chinese white dolphins inhabiting the waters along their shared coastline. This initiative represents an enhanced effort to safeguard a species under first-class state protection that is increasingly vulnerable due to habitat disturbance and human activities.

Xiamen is notable as the only major Chinese city where Chinese white dolphins, often called the “giant pandas of the sea,” coexist near urban areas. Approximately 80 of these dolphins reside in Xiamen’s coastal waters, where they are occasionally seen by residents. Recognizing that the dolphins frequently move beyond Xiamen’s jurisdiction, officials last month upgraded the cooperation mechanism among the three cities to institutionalize real-time data sharing, joint maritime patrols, and coordinated emergency rescue efforts.

Xu Jing, an official with Xiamen’s Chinese White Dolphin and Amphioxus Nature Reserve Affairs Center, emphasized that successful protection relies on broad social participation, including volunteer engagement in monitoring and rescue operations. The alliance also focuses on raising public awareness, educating citizens on how to respond if they encounter stranded dolphins.

A notable example of cross-city coordination occurred in August 2024 when Le Bao, a four-year-old female dolphin, became stranded on a Quanzhou beach after swimming out of Xiamen’s waters. Prompt reports from local residents activated a rapid response involving experts from Xiamen’s dolphin reserve and the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Third Institute of Oceanography. After more than 40 days of medical care at a dedicated aquatic rescue station, Le Bao was successfully returned to her natural habitat. Xu described her survival as a “miracle” enabled by the uninterrupted emergency response across both cities.

Xiamen’s stable dolphin population is also credited to the city’s long-term ecological efforts. These include the removal of marine aquaculture facilities to restore natural coastal ecosystems and the redesign of infrastructure projects, such as converting an originally planned above-ground bridge into an underground tunnel to preserve dolphin habitats. Such measures signal significant financial investments prioritizing biodiversity conservation.

Local enthusiasts, including paddleboarders, swimmers, and wildlife photographers, have formed volunteer networks to document dolphin sightings. Chen Yu, an open-water swimmer and aerial drone photographer, explained that these grassroots activities are rooted in local cultural traditions, where the dolphins are known as “Mazu fish,” named after the sea goddess. Residents regard them as protectors of the waters, fostering a communal sense of stewardship. The photographic records provide valuable behavioral data for marine scientists, aiding the tracking of family groups and newborn calves.

In April, drone footage captured a newborn calf swimming alongside Da Bai, a frequently observed female dolphin known for nursing young. Such repeated observations help biologists monitor the health and growth of the population.

To minimize human disturbance, marine experts have introduced a science-based maritime code of conduct encouraging water sports participants and photographers to maintain respectful distances from the dolphins. Local educator and paddleboarder Lin Yuan uses her own recorded encounters with the dolphins as teaching material, underscoring the importance of fostering environmental awareness among students to ensure the species’ continued presence in the region.

The tri-city alliance reflects a comprehensive approach combining government coordination, community involvement, and scientific guidance to support the survival of Chinese white dolphins in Fujian’s coastal waters.