IACM to study Chinese white dolphins

The Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) is preparing a research project on Chinese white dolphins in Macau’s waters with experts from the National Sun Yat-sen University.
The bureau said that they have noticed cases of Chinese white dolphins and finless porpoise becoming stranded on beaches of Coloane. As a result, IACM wants to understand more about the ecological conditions of Macau’s water.
Six IACM officials, accompanied by scholars from the National Sun Yat-sen University College of Marine Sciences sailed to the water near Macau on September 23 to observe dolphin activities in the area. They found four groups of dolphins during their trip, with a total of around 70 Chinese white dolphins spotted.
According to the data collected by the College of Marine Sciences, there are currently 1,500 Chinese white dolphins living at the mouth of the Pearl River. A preliminary investigation conducted by the college between 2011 and 2014 also showed that the areas in the Macau waters where the activities of dolphins are observed are mainly at the east and south of the Macau International Airport. There are also a few records of Chinese white dolphin activities in the south of Coloane and west of the Friendship Bridge.
Chinese white dolphins at the southern coast of China are facing various threats, including water pollution, vessel collision and loss of habitat.