Lin Min

linmin67@hotmail.com

EARLIER this year when I saw a squirrel racing up a tree in Huanggang Park, Futian District, I said to myself that Shenzhen’s efforts to protect wild animals have paid off as this was the first time I saw a squirrel in the city’s downtown area. The fireflies in Lianhua Hill Park and various species of birds at our community parks also serve as a testimony to that achievement.

So when investigators ascertained that an Indo-Pacific finless porpoise found dead at a beach in Yangmeikeng in Dapeng New Area on Tuesday had been killed by propellers of a boat, it sounded an alarm, reminding us that more needs to be done to conserve wildlife, not just on the land but also in the seas.

This is not the first time a porpoise was killed in Daya Bay. According to previous news reports, three finless porpoises were found dead in Daya Bay over a three-day period in March 2017. Another three dead porpoises were spotted in waters near the Dongchong and Xichong beaches and Luzui Resort in March 2018. Two dead porpoises were discovered near the Judiaosha beach in March 2019.

These tragic deaths all happened in March. According to experts, the breeding season for finless porpoises and dolphins is from March to April. The warm weather here at this time of the year, helped by favorable winds and currents, attracts porpoises from other places. During this time, these animals are often in shallow water and therefore are highly susceptible to injuries by speedboats and fishing boats. Experts say porpoises like to chase boats, making the species even more vulnerable to propeller strikes. The porpoise found dead last week sustained four palm-sized, clear-cut injuries.

But this year seems to see a higher death toll of porpoises. In January, more than 10 finless porpoises were found dead along the Daya Bay coastline. The higher death toll probably came as a result of busier boat activities. Since the beginning of this year, tourism around the area has boomed and a road to Luzui Resort is being repaired, making speedboat the only means to access the popular tourist destination. The rising numbers of boats sailing in the Daya Bay have apparently posed an increased danger for finless porpoises.

Experts from Sun Yat-sen University suggested Shenzhen expand the sea areas covered by the fishing ban, impose speed limits on speedboats and fishing boats, and require boat owners to install protective covers on propellers.

These suggestions are easy to implement and will certainly reduce the likelihood of sea animals being hurt or killed by boats.

The number of Indo-Pacific finless porpoises, which are under level-2 State protection, has been decreasing due to diseases, food shortages, water pollution and propeller strikes, reports have said.

An autopsy of the porpoise found dead last week discovered an empty stomach, suggesting the animal had not been able to catch any fish or shrimp long before it died. Experts investigating its death said they found this particularly distressing. The animal’s malnutrition before death could point to depleting fish and shrimp stocks in the seas and a worsening marine environment. This warrants a comprehensive research on the status quo of the sea areas near Shenzhen. Such research will also provide policymakers a better understanding of the health of the marine environment and a basis for crafting measures to improve the ocean ecology.

(The author is a deputy editor-in-chief of Shenzhen Daily.)