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Jiang Chuqin

The carcasses of six finless porpoises have washed up on Hong Kong’s shores this month, the highest number of marine animal strandings reported in the first two weeks of a year for nearly two decades.
Most of the carcasses were severely decomposed or consisted of only skeletal remains when discovered, with just one found in a fresh state near the Clear Water Bay Golf and Country Club on Thursday.
The other five cases were in various locations, including Sai Kung and Tuen Mun.
According to the Hong Kong Marine Life Stranding Online Database, the six cases logged over a 10-day period contrasted with an average of two reported strandings in the first two weeks of January since 2006.
The city logged 40 stranding cases last year, up from 26 in 2023 and 25 in 2022.
The highest annual number of stranded animals was recorded in 2019, when 55 carcasses washed up ashore in Hong Kong.
Most of the stranded animals found last year were finless porpoises and Chinese white dolphins, two resident species in local waters, with 29 and four found dead, respectively.


Marine experts said that while it was too early to identify a clear pattern, they encouraged the public to immediately report any sightings of stranded marine life to help scientists in gathering timely valuable data.
“The number of strandings always highly fluctuates throughout the year. So it is very difficult to tell if six cases at the beginning of this year are a lot,” said Dolphin Conservation Society chairman Taison Chang Kai-tai.
Chang said that the number of strandings was determined by various factors, including the presence of dead animals in the ocean, environmental conditions such as currents and wind, and the number of people visiting the beaches who might discover the carcasses.
Among the carcasses found, only 10 per cent had an identifiable cause of death, he said.
The low figure was primarily due to the severe decomposition of those recovered, which in turn could be attributed to Hong Kong’s hot and humid weather, Chang added.
Edgar Leung Kwan-chak, assistant scientific manager at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Conservation Foundation, said peak stranding periods consistently occurred during winter or cooler seasons, according to data from previous years.
One possible explanation concerned the availability of food for dolphins, while other theories looked at the prevalence of pathogens, such as infectious viruses or bacteria that could cause disease, he added.


But Leung said no definitive factors had been confirmed yet due to advanced levels of decomposition among the most recently discovered remains.
“We and our collaborators are trying hard to tackle this barrier and look for some evidence about the correlation between pathogen and temperature,” he said.
The analysis of data from the past 20 years showed that January had the highest monthly occurrence of stranded carcasses reported, at 81 cases, followed by March and April.
Leung added that the procedures following the discovery of a carcass could involve experts from multiple fields, such as veterinarians or chemists conducting toxicology assessments, and engineers who could calculate the potential impact of boat strikes.
“If the government can [work] a bit harder to make this data more cohesive, we may have a better strategy,” he said.

The Marine Life Stranding Response Team handles the discovery of such remains, conducting a necropsy either on-site or at Ocean Park, depending on the condition of the carcass. It also collects samples for further study.
The team includes experts from the Ocean Park Conservation Foundation and the theme park.
In the case of live strandings, the team will collaborate with the government and Ocean Park to explore rescue options. Fewer than 10 cases of live strandings have been reported in the past decade.
In December, the Airport Authority proposed a location for a yacht bay near the North Lantau coast, with one mooring space situated less than 100 metres (328 feet) from the edge of Brothers Marine Park. The park was established in 2016 to enhance the conservation of Chinese white dolphins.
The plan have raised concerns about the impact on the dolphins’ habitats, particularly due to the construction of breakwaters and other marine infrastructure.
But the Airport Authority argued that the assessment area was not a preferred habitat for marine life, and said it was committed to minimising any potential marine ecological disturbance.


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Experts have said the advanced decomposition of the marine life found has prevented them from determining the exact cause of the trend. Photo: Handout

The carcass of porpoise is found in a fresh state near the Clear Water Bay Golf and Country Club. Photo: Handout

Chinese white dolphin found dead on Hong Kong shores, necropsy under way

A dead Chinese white dolphin was found in Hong Kong waters on Tuesday evening. Photo: Ocean Park Conservation Foundation

A Chinese white dolphin seen off Lantau waters. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Hong Kong establishes its largest marine park in northern Lantau after airport expansion

A Chinese white dolphin seen at South Lantau Marine Park in June 2021. Photo: Sam Tsang

The Airport Authority in 2016 proposed the designation of North Lantau Marine Park. Photo: ISD

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Carcasses of six finless porpoises have washed up on Hong Kong’s shores so far this month


Carcasses of six finless porpoises have washed up on Hong Kong’s shores so far this month.


Hong Kong society

Ocean Park

Conservation