#China #Huawei #Xiamen #AI Solution #Chinese White Dolphin

Boosting Conservation Efforts with AI

In recent developments, Huawei and its partners have introduced an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) solution aimed at studying and conserving the Chinese white dolphin population in Xiamen Bay, China. On November 13, 2025, this project, part of Huawei’s TECH4ALL initiative, revealed encouraging preliminary results only three months after its launch.

The project utilizes AI to analyze data from 2,820 images and videos, resulting in the identification of 13 individual dolphins. It has achieved a remarkable identification accuracy rate of over 90% for individual dolphins, and an impressive 85% recognition rate for complex behaviors. Furthermore, the efficiency of data labeling has surged by 400%, and the response time for law enforcement to intervene with ships entering secure areas has improved by 65%.

Cui Yangyang, Director of the Huawei TECH4ALL Program Office, noted, "The data-driven insights provided by AI assist conservationists in formulating targeted protection measures to understand the threats facing this iconic dolphin species, ultimately aiding in their survival and growth in the wild."

The Chinese white dolphin is classified as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List and is under national protection. The main threats in Xiamen Bay, which hosts 51% of China's dolphin population, include maritime traffic, fishing activities, and coastal engineering projects. Long-term hazards like noise pollution, entanglement in fishing gear, and habitat loss pose significant risks to their survival.

This collaborative project involves the Third Institute of Oceanography, under China’s Ministry of Natural Resources, and China Mobile. The system employs unique markings on the dolphins’ dorsal fins for individual recognition. Wang Xianyan, leader of the Endangered Species Research and Conservation Team at the Third Institute, indicated that the incorporation of AI has made research more efficient and conservation efforts more precise. He elaborated, "The individual survival data, breeding dynamics, and social interactions provided by the AI recognition system form a crucial foundation for developing protective measures."

The AI solution encompasses image preprocessing, AI-driven extraction and recognition, dorsal fin cropping, data classification, and cloud-based image management. Each dolphin has its own file, allowing researchers to monitor individual conditions closely. Essential long-term data help researchers understand dolphin populations’ numbers, distributions, age structures, reproductive behaviors, and the threats they face. The previous manual monitoring process was tedious and failed to provide reliable information necessary for tracking population dynamics and developing precise conservation strategies.

According to the Third Institute of Oceanography, the next 10 to 15 years will be critical for the population’s growth. Chinese white dolphins play a vital role in coastal marine ecosystems and the ocean's carbon sink functionality. They feed on plankton-consuming fish, contributing indirectly to the carbon cycle by absorbing CO2 and stabilizing carbon through photosynthesis. Therefore, preserving dolphin populations and the ocean ecosystem’s integrity is essential in addressing climate change.

To support these AI-powered analyses, a 5G-A network consisting of 10 base stations covers a 330 square kilometer area of the bay, ensuring continuous coverage of critical conservation areas. By integrating detection and communication capabilities of 5G-A, researchers can combine data from radars, visual terminals, satellites, and Automatic Identification System (AIS) ship positioning data to monitor maritime movements in real-time within a 20-kilometer radius. The system issues AI-driven alerts within seconds for violations such as boundary breaches or speeding, allowing law enforcement personnel to verify violations and quickly locate offending ships.

To date, 12 vessels have been investigated due to potential threats posed to dolphins. With the implementation of AI and ongoing research efforts, the previously hidden lives of the white dolphin population in Xiamen Bay are gradually being uncovered, instilling hope for their continued survival.