Hong Kong reefs healthy: survey

HK News 19 Dec 09;

Local reefs are healthy and stable with 23 out of 33 sites surveyed recording high coral coverage, according to the results of Hong Kong Reef Check 2009.

Coral Beach and the public pier in Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park and A Ma Wan in Tung Ping Chau Marine Park recorded the highest coral coverage, ranging from 72% to 74%.

The three-month survey, starting in June, covered coral sites in eastern Hong Kong waters extending from Tung Ping Chau in the north to the Ninepin Group in the south, including Hoi Ha Wan, Yan Chau Tong and Tung Ping Chau Marine Parks.

The survey found a variation in coral coverage ranging from 19% to 74%. Twenty-three sites including dive-sites within Hoi Ha Wan, Yan Chau Tong and Tung Ping Chau Marine Parks recorded high coral coverage at above 50%.

Health status

Reefs at 22 sites were assessed using the coral-watch tool. The average health index was 4.31, similar to last year's 4.27 figure, showing corals were in a healthy and stable condition.

Coral bleaching and some damage was observed at some sites but the impact was minor and localised.

Most of the surveyed sites had high species diversity. Of the 20 assigned indicator species, 19 were recorded, two more species on last year. Wrasses, groupers, butterfly fish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and cowries were species commonly found at the survey sites.

To better conserve the seascape and ecological resources like coral communities in the geopark, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department is planning to designate more marine parks.