Unsustainable Sand Mining in China Threatens A Critically-Endangered Cetacean

A long-term assessment of theYangtze finless porpoise in a heavily mined lake in China, has made some disturbing discoveries.

Sand mining boats, similar to those in Poyang Lake. Photo by Zhigang Mei.

In only a decade, the mining has significantly restricted the porpoise’s habitat, compromised its population connectivity, and destroyed its nearshore habitats.

Two porpoises leap from the water. Photo by Huigong Yu.

The researchers hope their findings will promote government accountability and raise general awareness of the plight of the animal.

Sand has for some time been second only to water as the planet’s most heavily extracted resource, with huge implications for habitat health and biodiversity.

The findings of the research team from the Chinese Academy of Science are now published in the proceedings of the Royal Society.

Lead photo; The Yangtze finless porpoise feeds in Poyang Lake, where sand is heavily mined. Photo by Huigong Yu.

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Larry Powell

I’m a veteran eco-journalist living in Shoal Lake, Manitoba, Canada. I have a life-long love of wildlife & natural places. After working for radio and TV stations for about 30 years, I've turned to science writing as a freelancer specializing in the Earth Sciences. I’m a member of the Science Writers & Communicators of Canada and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. I’m authorized to receive embargoed material through the Science Media Centre of Canada, the Royal Society, NatureResearch and the World Health Organization. This allows me advance access to important, peer-reviewed research often warning of habitat loss and the threat of extinction facing many wild species, usually thanks to human intrusion and intervention by the hand of man. They then often become "hot-off-the-press" stories which are ready to publish the moment the embargoes are lifted. I publish www.PlanetInPeril.ca (PinP) "Where Science Gets Respect." I own professional photographic gear and am sometimes able to enhance my stories with my own images.