The endangered spotted seal population in northeast China’s Liaodong Bay is experiencing a significant rise as spring brings warmer temperatures.
Liaodong Bay, located in Panjin City of Liaoning Province, is recognized as one of the world’s eight key breeding habitats for spotted seals, a species under first-class national protection in China.
Each winter, spotted seals embark on a remarkable migration across the Bohai Strait to breed in the ice-covered waters of Liaodong Bay. As temperatures rise, the seals give birth and nurture their young in this unique environment.
“The number of spotted seals arriving in the area was 181 in 2021, 253 in 2022, and 302 in 2023, showing an annual increase of about 20 percent,” said Tian Jiguang, marine animal research director of Panjin’s Wetland Conservancy Association. “This growth is a positive sign that the local environment has improved in recent years.”
Tian explained that the seals breed during January and February, with newborns being nurtured for a month before shedding their white fur and learning to swim independently. “Adult seals tend to be more lethargic, often sleeping on their stomachs along the beach, while younger seals are more energetic, playing near the water’s edge,” he added.
Currently, the Liaohe Estuary hosts five habitats for spotted seals, primarily located south and east of Sandaogou Fishing Port in Panshan County, Panjin. The relocation of these habitats is closely linked to seasonal fluctuations in the river’s water flow.
“The habitat of spotted seals used to be a little bit north from the Mengtou area,” said Li Yue, who is in charge of the area’s spotted seal protection station. “As the tide shifts, narrowing the channel and slowing down the flow, the diet and environment of the seals change. Consequently, they relocate to the area south of the Sandaogou fishing port,” explained Sun Gang, leader of the Fisheries Enforcement Team of Panshan County.
Since the beginning of March, staff at the protection station have been working in shifts to maintain round-the-clock surveillance at Sandaogou fishing port, ensuring continuous management of the seals’ key habitats.
“Many fishermen previously passed through the habitats of spotted seals when heading out to sea. But now, they try not to intrude on those habitats to give the seals the best possible environment and space,” said Li.
In recent years, spotted seals have garnered increasing attention from society at large. Consequently, efforts to strengthen the management of protected areas have been ongoing, resulting in a steady rise in the observed population of these endangered seals each year.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
