Quảng Ninh: Dolphins, whales spotted multiple times around Co To island

The local marine environment has improved, with rare animals such as sea turtles, dolphins, and whales reappearing near the shore after many years of absence and coral reefs beginning to thrive.

QUẢNG NINH — The waters surrounding Cô Tô island in the northeastern province of Quảng Ninh have been frequented by schools of dolphins and whales, capturing the attention of local fishermen and authorities.

Most recently, a resident of Cô Tô island district, while fishing for squid on January 20, recorded footage of a group of around 30 dolphins surfacing in the sea approximately 2-3 km off the coast of the island.

According to him, the encounter is not uncommon, but usually, only a few dolphins appear. The man said this is the largest group he has ever seen.

In mid-December 2023, during their patrol, local border guard soldiers captured a 35-second clip of a pod of whales appearing southeast of the island, approximately six nautical miles from the coast.

Also last year, a group of 4-5 whales were spotted foraging for food around Cô Tô Island twice in July and September.

In 2022, local fishermen discovered a group of dolphins swimming for several hours near the local Nam Hải beach in November, while a rare sea turtle weighing around 20kg made an appearance at Đông beach.

For several years, the authorities of the district have been committed to environmental protection, safeguarding forests, natural resources, marine ecosystems, and actively collecting and processing ocean waste, with the goal of making Cô Tô a plastic-free and sustainable tourist destination. Since September 15 last year, the district has prohibited visitors from bringing single-use plastic items.

Thanks to these efforts, the local marine environment has improved, with rare animals such as sea turtles, dolphins, and whales reappearing near the shore after many years of absence and coral reefs beginning to thrive. — VNS