CBCGDF Expert Prof. John MK Wong: Hong Kong Coastal Protection Areas: Past, Present and Future
Recently, the editor of OceanWetlands received the outline of a speech on Hong Kong Marine Protected Areas in 2002 by Professor John MK Wong, Executive Director of the Qatar Gulf Whale Shark Conservation Center.
Marine parks were first established in the United States and New Zealand in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The first marine park was the John Payne Kemp Maine Sanctuary in Florida, United States. It was established to protect corals, as local communities and governments noticed the deterioration of the marine environment, especially corals in the area. This was followed by the establishment of Rodney Point Marine Reserve in New Zealand near the Marine Laboratory, and since then, marine reserves have been established in other countries such as the Seychelles (1971), Ras Mohammed in the Red Sea of Egypt (1979), and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park in Australia (1975). During that decade, marine reserves were established around the world, including in Japan, Malaysia, China, Brazil, Canada, and Thailand.
1. Objectives of the protected area
- Protect marine habitats and marine life in designated areas from damage
- Provide breeding and nursery areas for young marine life to promote their growth and ensure the maintenance of natural ecosystems
- Reduce human interference with the marine environment
2. Factors affecting the marine environment
• Human activities:
- Fishing
- Shipping
- Development
- Pollution
• Natural events:
- Red tide outbreaks
- Temperature surges
• Changes:
- Seismic activity
- Land discharge, water flow
3. Procedures for establishing a marine park
- Advice from professionals or authorities
- Collect regional data, baseline information, biodiversity, identify human activities in the area
- Identify indicator species
- Study daily and seasonal changes
- Prepare laws, management plans and policies
- Continue monitoring and research
- Pass legislative approval
Marine Protection Areas in Hong Kong - History
- In 1976 and 1979, Professor Brian Morton pointed out the need for marine reserves in Hong Kong.
- In 1988, Wong Ming-kan met with the then Governor Sir David Wilson and suggested the establishment of marine parks in Hong Kong, as marine parks had been established all over the world to protect the environment. Mr Wilson said, "We can think about it".
- In 1989, the Agriculture and Fisheries Department set up a Working Group on Marine Parks and Reserves to investigate its feasibility.
- In 1990, the Working Group issued a report in support of marine reserves.
- On June 1, 1995, the Working Group officially became the Marine Parks and Reserves Committee. The Marine Parks and Reserves Ordinance was enacted.
- On July 5, 1996, three marine parks and one marine reserve were established.
- On July 15, 1996, the provisions of the Marine Parks and Marine Reserves Ordinance came into effect.
- On November 16, 2001, Tung Ping Chau Marine Park was established.
Marine Protection Areas in Hong Kong - Now
1. Objectives of marine protected areas:
- Breeding and nursery sites for fisheries
- Seabird habitats
- Turtle nesting sites
- Feeding and nursery sites for marine mammals
- Coral, mangrove, seagrass ecosystems
2. Support needed from
- Planners
- Architects
- Crew members
- Educators
- Administrators and the public
- Fishing communities
- Government, NGOs, local and neighbouring areas
- Local residents
- Stakeholders
3. Actions:
- Restoration
- Artificial reefs
- Education
- Cleaning
- Reporting
- Fish sanctuaries
- Restoration of damaged seafloor
Marine Protected Areas in Hong Kong - The Future
1. Northwest:
- Mai Po
- Mangrove habitat
- Oyster beds
- Mudflat ecosystem
2. West:
- Dolphins and porpoises
- Pearl River estuary
- Freshwater fisheries
3. South:
- Offshore fisheries, sharks, turtles and cetaceans
- Soft corals
- Shrimp and fish fry
4. East:
- Coral and seagrass ecosystems
- Fishery nursery
- Recreational water activities
Future actions:
- Continued research and monitoring
- Volunteer reporting mechanism
- More marine parks and protection for fishermen or the public
Original Chinese Article: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/ZoKyQKl_GhsgWS2qyYAPlw
Translator: Maggie
Checked by: Daisy
Contact: v10@cbcgdf.org; +8617319454776
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