Just off the coast of southern China lies a striking stretch of sea shaped like two crescent moons. This is Shuangyue Bay—"Double Moon Bay"—in Huizhou, Guangdong Province. A haven for marine life, the bay is home to two of China's most endangered species: the green sea turtle and the Chinese bahaba, or giant yellow croaker.
"Our green sea turtles have declined sharply over the past decade. Only a few come ashore to lay eggs now," says Xia Zhongrong, Director of the National Sea Turtle Conservation Center in Huidong County, Huizhou.
Back in 1949, an estimated 400 to 500 wild green sea turtles would arrive on the shores of Double Moon Bay each year to nest. However, by 1985, after decades of poaching and worsening marine conditions, that number had plunged to around 100. In response, the conservation center was established that same year to save the dwindling population.
In 2017, the center achieved a milestone: the first successful artificial breeding of green sea turtles in China. Today, more than 2,000 baby turtles are born at the center annually. Beyond managing breeding and habitat conservation, Xia and his team also conduct scientific research, rescue sick turtles, and run public education programs.
Many of the turtles bred in captivity will eventually be released into the wild, but tracking their survival remains a challenge. "The ocean is vast and unpredictable," Xia says. "We still don't have a precise way to monitor how well they adapt." It takes about 33 years for a green sea turtle to reach reproductive maturity, so for Xia, the real measure of success is still years away.
Just seven kilometers from Xia's facility, another conservation effort is taking shape, focusing on the endangered Chinese bahaba—a fish prized for its large swim bladder but now banned from commercial trade.
At the One Sea Marine Ranch, the bahaba is being bred with care. The ranch is managed by Xing Mingyan, a former finance professional from the northeastern port city of Dalian. She arrived in Huidong five years ago on a business trip and has stayed since.
Moved by the struggles of local fishing villages and inspired by the region's ecological potential, Xing pivoted to a second career in Huidong. Her company now works to integrate marine resources and develop fish bladder products from other species, like the golden croaker—a legal and economically viable alternative to the bahaba.
Yet conservation isn't cheap. The income from selling golden croaker is still insufficient to cover the costs of breeding the endangered bahaba. "We're not profitable yet," Xing admits. "But we're building for the future."
With improvements in local infrastructure—such as cold-chain logistics—Xing hopes to expand her market and eventually achieve financial sustainability, enabling her company to continue its protection efforts. "That day will come. I'm very patient," she says.
Reporter | Chen Siyuan
Video | Liang Zijian
Photo | Liang Zijian
Editor | Hu Nan, James, Shen He
