Stephen C.Y. Chan, Ph.D

Time is running out: The science and practice of protecting Chinese white dolphins in Hong Kong

Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, commonly called Chinese white dolphins, have been a major conservation concern in Hong Kong for decades. The population lost a large portion of its habitat in the region during the 1990s because of massive land reclamation projects. A slate of recent development projects around Lantau Island further intensified the pressure, once again displacing the dolphins. This in turn reduced adult survival and reproduction and threatens to degrade the dolphin’s last remaining high-quality habitat in Hong Kong waters.

Stephen C.Y. Chan will use a combination of quantitative methods to investigate population trends and management options for conserving Chinese white dolphins in Hong Kong. He will gather environmental data to understand how the dolphins select their habitat and will use computational models to project dolphin-habitable areas in the face of planned coastal development. He will also explore the links between dolphins in Hong Kong and those across the Pearl River Delta region in mainland China to assess the overall population sustainability. Dr. Chan will use this information to develop a conservation plan for Chinese white dolphins in Hong Kong, produced in collaboration with coastal communities, government managers, and nongovernmental organizations.

To learn more about Dr. Chan, read his bio.

See the full list of 2025 Pew marine fellows.