Protected Bryde's Whale Struck by Fishing Vessel in Weizhou Island Waters, Sparking Conservation Concerns

A protected Bryde's whale was struck by a fishing vessel in the bustling waters near Weizhou Island, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, on February 7, sparking immediate concern among conservationists and marine researchers. The incident occurred in an area renowned for its whale-watching tourism, where the rare marine mammals have become a focal point for both visitors and scientists. Drone footage captured by tourists reveals the whale surfacing repeatedly, its spout visible as whale-watching boats hovered nearby—some idling, others maintaining a cautious distance. Moments later, a fishing vessel is seen charging through the area at speed, its bow rising dramatically as it passes directly over the whale's back, leaving a stark and unsettling mark on the animal's body.

The collision has left a long, white scar stretching across the whale's back, a wound measuring approximately 19 to 23 inches on its right side. Researchers from Nanjing Normal University, who have been tracking Bryde's whales near Weizhou Island for years, identified the injured animal as WZ-056 by cross-referencing long-term monitoring records. Dr. Li Wei, a marine biologist involved in the study, stated