SOS - Save Our Seas Campaign

Our Sea Before and Today

Amazingly Rich Marine Life In Hong Kong Waters

Very few people realize how amazingly rich our local sea was in the 1950s, and can be again. For example, more than 80 hard coral species have been recorded – more than the entire Caribbean, and around 1000 species of fish. Sharks were common, Manta rays found at certain times of year, and Green turtles nested on many beaches. The Pearl River Estuary to the west of Lantau was home to huge schools of fish which gathered together at certain times of years to spawn, such as croakers. Croakers, including the massive Chinese bahaba are important bottom-dwelling food fish.

Fish Stocks Have Collapsed And Some Species Are Heading for Extinction

Our vibrant waters have been cruelly treated since the 1950s. Factory effluent was discharged into the sea in the 1970 and 80s when Hong Kong was a manufacturing centre, along with huge amounts of sewage - a practice that continues today. Reclamation has covered over spawning and nursery grounds in many shallow areas, while big pits are dredged in the seabed to provide sand for reclamations. The amount of fishing has also increased dramatically and some areas are now trawled with heavy weighted nets several times a day. Hong Kong is one of the most intensively fished places in the world, but amazingly the government places no limits on commercial fishing.

Unsurprisingly, populations of many species have crashed under this barrage of threats. Reef sharks are virtually extinct, Manta rays have not been seen for decades, and the Green turtle has not visited the last regular nesting beach on Lamma for four years. The mighty Chinese bahaba is now listed on the IUCN Redlist as Critically Endangered in the world, and sometimes none are caught in Hong Kong in a year. Many other large food fish are now rare, and have to be imported.

1950s Hong Kong

2008 Hong Kong

What Needs To Happen To Fill Our Seas With Marine Life Again?

It's not too late to save most species, and to allow them to flourish once again. But government must act quickly and decisively. There are many areas, particularly in southern and eastern waters which are still relatively unpolluted and good habitat still exists. By far the biggest threat remaining is overfishing, so the simple solution is to provide sanctuaries where fishing and other disturbance is not permitted. Such sanctuaries, termed no-take zones or marine reserves, have proven very effective in conserving fish and other marine life in many countries.

Hong Kong does have four marine parks covering 2% of our waters, but incredibly some kinds of commercial fishing are still allowed in them. This has to stop - WWF and other research shows clearly that fish populations are not recovering in marine parks, even after 10 years protection. Hong Kong is blessed with country parks covering 40% of the land and where no hunting is allowed, so why is our sea so poorly protected?

WWF is urgently calling for all fishing to be stopped in our marine parks, and for additional spawning and nursery areas in Port Shelter and Tolo Channel to be similarly protected, covering 10% of Hong Kong waters. The government must also put an end to the free-for-all in the rest of Hong Kong waters, and institute sustainable fisheries management – essentially limiting catches to what can be taken sustainably each year. As a start, commercial fishing vessels should be required to have a fishing license, so that government can finally control the numbers of boats fishing.

What Effect Will These Measures Have On The Fishing Community?

Poor fish catches and high fuel costs mean that the fishing community is already undergoing considerable hardship, and many have left to find other jobs. No-take zones can help rebuild stocks in fished areas, by allowing fish to reproduce undisturbed within the no-take zone.

However, WWF recognizes that stopping fishing in 10% of Hong Kong waters may have a great impact on fishers who currently fish in those areas. In the long-term fishers will benefit, but the government must provide support in the short-term.

We urge the government to work with the fishing community to ease the transition period, and to help them find alternative employment in related fields, such as diving and recreational boat operators, eco-tour guides etc. Compensation should also be provided for loss of fishing grounds.