In Depth: The Precarious Fate of China’s Only Nearshore Whales

The Bryde’s whales of Xieyang Island, discovered in 2018, have emerged as China’s only known nearshore whale population, thriving unexpectedly amidst rapid coastal development and traffic in southern China. This unique group is found near Xieyang, a small island in the Gulf of Tonkin, southwest Guangxi, and their presence has transformed the area into a burgeoning tourist destination [para. 1][para. 2][para. 3]. However, the population is increasingly threatened by intensified human activity, including surging tourism and over-fishing, prompting urgent conservation efforts [para. 3].

Xieyang Island, a mere 1.9 square kilometers in size, contrasts with the nearby, more popular Weizhou Island. Yet, its underwater environment is of immense value, hosting the seasonal gatherings of Bryde’s whales—an event rare enough to make Xieyang the sole whale-watching site in China [para. 4][para. 5]. Professor Chen Bingyao and his team at Nanjing Normal University have identified over 70 individual whales by their dorsal fins, with the yearly population fluctuating between 26 and 58. As a first-class protected species in China, Bryde’s whales are large baleen giants, feeding mostly on small fish like anchovies [para. 6].

Despite efforts to track whale migration using satellite tagging, their full migratory routes remain unclear. The limited data available suggest some individuals reside year-round in the Gulf of Tonkin, while others likely migrate seasonally along China’s coastlines, with reports of sightings shifting from the Gulf to the eastern provinces from January to June, and then north during the latter half of the year. This migratory uncertainty significantly complicates conservation planning [para. 8][para. 9][para. 10][para. 11][para. 12].

Tourism has boomed since the whales' discovery. In 2024, Weizhou alone saw more than 120,000 visitors during the Lunar New Year holiday, generating about 200 million yuan ($27.6 million) in tourism revenue [para. 13][para. 14]. Whale-watching boats and jet skis frequently crowd the waters, causing behavioral disturbances. Studies show that vessel traffic can reduce feeding rates by over half, affecting survival and reproduction; the case of “Xiao Bu,” a whale that died two months after repeated disturbances, highlights the risks. Such pressures, as confirmed by international studies, can increase whale energy expenditure and disrupt vital behaviors [para. 17][para. 18][para. 19][para. 20]. Regulatory measures, as seen in Tonga, can mitigate negative impacts, unlike unregulated sites such as Japan’s Ogasawara Islands [para. 22][para. 23][para. 24].

Threats from declining food sources, mainly anchovies, due to intense surface trawling, are even more alarming. Locals report a dramatic depletion in fish stocks compared to just eight years ago, forcing behavioral changes among the whales, such as restricted feeding times and decreased mating activity [para. 26][para. 27][para. 28]. Injuries from boat strikes and fishing gear ensnarement are also on the rise, with researchers documenting 57 whales with injuries from January 2021 to February 2023 [para. 29][para. 30].

Conservationists propose establishing a marine protected area (MPA) covering Weizhou, Xieyang, and migration corridors, with regulated fishing and whale-watching. However, enforcement is challenged by local resistance and the lack of current legal authority to restrict some fishing activities [para. 32][para. 33][para. 34][para. 35][para. 36][para. 37][para. 38]. Experts argue for sustainable solutions, stressing that MPAs need not harm local livelihoods but can provide oversight and balance ecological and economic needs [para. 39]. A deeper understanding of whale migration and greater research funding are considered crucial next steps for effective conservation [para. 40][para. 41].