Chinese Fishing Boat Hits Protected Bryde’s Whale in Weizhou Island, China

Busy Tourist Waters

A shocking accident happened near Weizhou Island on 07 February. A Chinese fishing boat struck a protected Bryde’s whale while it swam in busy waters off the country’s southern coast. The area, located in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has become famous for whale watching recently. Many visitors travel there to see these rare marine animals up close.

On the day of the incident, several whale-watching boats floated nearby as tourists recorded the whale with their cameras. According to a widely shared video link, the whale surfaced calmly and spouted water into the air. The sea looked peaceful, and nothing seemed unusual at first.

Sudden Sea Collision

Moments later, the calm scene changed quickly. A fishing vessel moved straight through the same area without slowing down. The boat passed directly over the whale’s back. According to ‌ a video, the captain did not change direction before the impact. Witnesses later shared images that showed a long white scar across the whale’s back.

The mark stretched clearly along its right side. Conservation groups and marine researchers raised concern soon after the pictures appeared online. The accident drew attention because Bryde’s whales are protected at the highest national level in China. News about the collision spread fast across social media and news platforms.

Vessel Route Details

Officials confirmed that the boat carried the registration name Weizhou 0008. It left Nanwan Port at around 6am to place shrimp nets about three nautical miles offshore. The owner headed back to port at about 3.30pm when the collision happened roughly one nautical mile from the island. Authorities explained that the boat’s design causes the bow to rise while moving, which limits forward visibility. The captain reportedly saw the whale only when it was less than 32 feet away. He could not brake or turn in time to avoid hitting it.

Whale Health Update

Researchers from Nanjing Normal University have monitored Bryde’s whales around Weizhou Island since 2018. They identified the injured whale as WZ-056 after checking long-term records.

Experts measured the white wound at about 19 to 23 inches long on the whale’s back. Specialists said the injury was unlikely to cause serious harm. Over the next two days, researchers watched the whale closely and confirmed it continued swimming and feeding normally in local waters.

Growing Whale Tourism

Weizhou Island supports one of the world’s largest nearshore small Bryde’s whale populations, with more than 70 individuals recorded. Whale watching has increased tremendously in the region, with a maximum number of 2,300 visitors visiting every day. In 2025, the tourism revenue in the industry was about £24 million. Following the accident, all vessels were reminded by the authorities to reduce their speeds, maintain adequate lookout, and avoid whales when they are observed.

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