Sanniangwan is a gem along the coast of mainland China.  It is fed by Dafeng Jiang (大風江) river, one of the last unspoiled river basins in China.  The locals have fished this small, shallow-water bay sustainably for generations, and continue to do so using family-owned wooden vessels.

Until the 1980s, these boats were powered by sails which have since been replaced by diesel engines.  In recent years, improved transportation and China’s economic growth have greatly increased the income of the local fishermen.  Since 2004, many families have also opened hotels and restaurants to serve the tourists who come for dolphin-watching.

People often ask why the dolphins in Sanniangwan are thriving while most other populations along China’s coastline are extinct or declining.  The answer is simple: there are lots of fish here.

On a recent morning, I saw a family unloading the morning’s catch from their boat.  Their haul totaled ten of these nets filled with what I think are small yellow croaker（小黃魚）,  each net weighing over 200 pounds.  Not a bad day of fishing.