How Can Humanity Become Friends with the Ocean?

BEIJING, Nov. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report from China.org.cn on China's efforts in marine ecological governance:

"Look, white dolphins!" Such excited cries can often be heard along the coast of Xiamen, a city in east China's Fujian Province.

The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, commonly known as the Chinese white dolphin, is considered Class I nationally protected wildlife in China. As apex predators in coastal waters, these dolphins are regarded as a barometer of marine ecosystem health. Back in the 1990s, however, rising shipping activity, coastal reclamation and near‑shore development severely encroached on their habitats.

To minimize disturbances to dolphin habitats, Xiamen established China's first provincial‑level nature reserve dedicated to Chinese white dolphins in 1997. Since then, the city has continuously refined its coastal governance approaches, restricted activities with significant environmental impacts, and promoted cross‑regional collaboration in conservation. Many other ocean‑friendly initiatives have also been rolled out. These include restoring mangrove wetland ecosystems; implementing an "offshore sanitation" mechanism and organizing public beach‑clean‑up campaigns to regularly remove floating marine debris; and releasing nearly 8 billion aquatic animals across 18 species through stock enhancement programs. As a result, populations of several fish species, such as the wild large yellow croaker and yellowfin seabream, have returned to Xiamen Bay.

Recently, "AI bodyguards" have joined the conservation effort. High‑definition cameras, drones and intelligent recognition systems track dolphin activity round‑the‑clock. Automatic alerts are issued whenever vessels approach the dolphins in violation of regulations. Researchers have also created individual digital profiles for each dolphin, identifying them by their dorsal‑fin shapes and body spot patterns, while recording their movement trajectories.

Xiamen is a microcosm of China's efforts in marine ecological governance — forging ahead boldly yet never walking alone.

Over the decades, China has taken a series of concrete steps: from founding its first marine nature reserve in 1963, to proposing the goal of "building a strong maritime nation," and publishing the white paper "Marine Eco‑Environmental Protection in China"; from drawing marine ecological protection red lines, to actively engaging with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and signing major international agreements on marine conservation, including the UN Agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (UN BBNJ).

For decades, China has been answering a vital question through concrete action: how can humanity coexist harmoniously with the ocean and create mutual benefits?

The answer is becoming increasingly clearer. Today, China's extensive coastline features clean waters and pristine beaches, with fish swimming freely and seabirds soaring overhead. Not long ago, China's Blue Bay Restoration Initiative was named a UN World Restoration Flagship. Now, the 21st Xiamen World Ocean Week is officially inaugurated, bringing together experts, scholars and representatives from various countries and international organizations to discuss marine conservation and harmonious coexistence between humanity and the ocean. In marine ecological protection and governance, China is not only a proactive participant and practitioner, but also a contributor to sharing experience and shaping future approaches.

Along Xiamen's shoreline, the sea breeze blows gently as children run after the waves, echoing the ongoing story of humanity and the ocean.

China Mosaic
http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm

SOURCE China.org.cn