Abstract: As a flagship and indicator species, the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) plays a critical role in near-shore marine ecosystems. However, knowledge of its distribution remains limited, with significant gaps in baseline data across unexplored regions. This study employed a Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model to predict the potential suitable habitats of Sousa chinensis in northeastern Beibu Gulf, China, by integrating field survey data with satellite remote sensing data. Correlation coefficient analysis of environmental variables identified 5 minimally correlated factors: chlorophyll a concentration, distance from shore, sea surface temperature, water diffuse attenuation coefficient, and water depth, which were therefore used in the final model analysis. The model demonstrated excellent predictive performance, with an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.991, indicating high predictive accuracy. Jackknife tests revealed that chlorophyll a concentration and distance from shore were the most influential predictors of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin distribution, while sea surface temperature, diffuse attenuation coefficient, and water depth played relatively minor roles. Each environmental variable exhibited an optimal range influencing habitat suitability. Results indicate that much of northeastern Beibu Gulf offer potentially suitable habitat, but areas of high suitability are patchily distributed, primarily concentrated in Shatian-Caotan waters, Sanniang Bay, and the region south of Beihai City near Guantouling, suggesting ongoing habitat fragmentation for this species. To date, research efforts have focused primarily on the first two highly suitable areas, while baseline information for other regions remains scarce. Therefore, future efforts should expand survey coverage to confirm the presence of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins in these regions. Corresponding conservation actions are recommended, promoting the establishment of protected areas, integrating management into coastal zone planning, conducting ecological restoration, and facilitating information sharing.