A recent study commissioned by WWF found an overwhelming majority of Hong Kong people agree that protection for threatened marine life and habitats in Hong Kong is insufficient. Almost all the people questioned called for all marine parks to be designated as "no-take" protected areas for marine creatures in our battered ocean to survive and reproduce.

WWF asks that all marine parks in Hong Kong be made no-fishing protected areas. This picture was taken in the Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park. © WWF Hong Kong / Clarus Chu

The opinion survey, undertaken by TNS in January and February 2008, collected views from 1,003 Cantonese-speaking Hong Kong people between the age of 15 and 64. Over 90% of the interviewees agree that more effort should be made to protect threatened marine life and habitats in Hong Kong, while an even higher 95% found it reasonable to establish no-take zones for providing sanctuaries to marine life.

Most of the interviewees, 87%, believe all marine parks in Hong Kong should be made no-fishing protected areas while Port Shelter and Tolo Harbour and Channel were also suggested as no-take zones – accounting for about 10% of Hong Kong waters. The respondents on average thought that a hefty 47% of Hong Kong waters should be no-take zones. (Detailed findings please refer to the Annex)

There is also a significant increase (9% in 2005 survey increased to 69% in 2008) in people believing that individuals are responsible for protecting Hong Kong's marine environment and species as compared to a 2005 study. The survey findings show that Hong Kong people have reached a consensus for better protection for our sea, and they are willing to take more responsibility than before.

"Hong Kong badly lags behind many developed countries in marine protection work. Hong Kong is probably the only place in Asia without any licensing system or catch quota for fishing. We currently only have one tiny disturbance-free marine reserve amounting to 0.016% of our waters; while commercial fishing is still allowed in the four designated marine parks of less than 2% of the local seas." Dr. Andy Cornish, Director of Conservation of WWF Hong Kong said.

Hong Kong seas are in an alarming condition. According to Dr Cornish's 10-year coral fish monitoring study completed in 2007, fish populations on coral communities in the Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park failed to rebound from already low levels since its establishment in 1996.

Furthermore, according to other study, the Chinese Bahaba, which can reach up to two metres in length, and only occurs in South China, saw a massive decrease in catches from 50 tonnes in the 1930s to 2.5 tonnes in 2000. It was identified as a globally Critically Endangered species in 2006 and is close to extinction.

"We used to have more fish species than the entire Mediterranean, and we still have more coral species than the Caribbean region. But what remains today are primarily juvenile fish struggling to survive. It's hard for visitors of our marine life centre at Hoi Ha Wan to see any fish of decent size around this famous coral community," said Dr. Cornish.

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