HONG KONG, XINHUA - A three-day symposium on protecting Chinese white dolphins opened here today. Eight overseas dolphin and cetacean specialists, together with local experts from companies, institutions and government departments, are to present their theses on the subject.
In his welcoming address, Lawrence Lee, director of Agriculture and Fisheries, said that the symposium will focus on issues that threatened the continued survival of the Chinese white dolphins in Hong Kong waters. To give the dolphins a fighting chance of surviving in the 21st century all major threats must be identified, he said.
He noted that the issue came up following the decision to build the new airport at Chek Lap Kok. Large scale reclamation and associated development works had potential impact on these dolphins whose population was so far little known. A number of research studies and conservation work have been or being carried out by the government to help protect these endangered mammals, he said.
According to Lee, the first two day's talk sessions of the symposium are to focus on the status of cetacean knowledge, Hong Kong marine environment, human influences and management aspects. He said that the group discussion on the third day will center on topics about fishery interactions with human dimensions, water quality and population issues, dolphin watching, marine traffic and noise, and habitat loss.