Transcript Marinelife in Hong Kong

Introduction
Marinelife in Hong Kong
Corals
Fish
Seagrass
Others
Marine conservation
Chinese White Dolphin
Green turtle
Marine Parks
Reference
The marine fauna of Hong Kong is exceedingly
diverse. Though primarily tropical, it is a mixture of
tropical South China Sea and temperate Chinese
forms because of the seasonal fluctuations of warm
and cold water and monsoon weather conditions.
Marine invertebrate are very abundant, ranging
from corals, molluscs to crustaceans. Many of them
are an important supply of animal protein to Hong
Kong population.
Coral communities in Hong Kong
Isolated coral colonies can be found from shallow waters
of the rocky shores around Hong Kong's outlying islands
and mainland.
The richest coral communities prevail to the east of Hong
Kong where waters is free from the influence of Pearl
River and sheltered.
Although the western waters is turbid, scattered stony
coral communities have also been recorded in the area.
In the central region , because of the unsuitable water
quality, few stony corals can survive there.
Number of species of stony corals in Hong
Kong waters
Under the influence of local weather,
hydrological conditions and anthropogenic
perturbations, there are about 51 species of
reef-building corals from 26 genera and about
10 species of non-reef-building corals from 4
genera.
Those coral species can tolerate wide annual
fluctuations in water temperature and salinity
as well as periodic typhoons and monsoon.
Goniopora columna
Turbinaria sp.
Hydnophora exesa
Favites abdita
Platygyra sinensis
Favia speciosa
Diversity of other corals in Hong Kong
In addition to stony corals, there are soft corals,
gorgonians, black corals, sea pens and so on in Hong Kong
waters.
There are 26 species of gorgonians in Hong Kong waters.
Gorgonians prevail in the eastern waters of less
variable salinity.
Eight species of black corals have been recorded in Hong
Kong waters. Most of them found in north-eastern waters at
depth of 10-20m.
Reef fish
Over 500 species of reef fish from 69 families have
been recorded from Hong Kong's territorial waters since
the first records in the mid-1850s. The list of fishes
recorded from Hong Kong is still growing. Many of the
more recent records are small tropical species. Some of
them probably only occur here when currents
occasionally transport their larvae from tropical shores.
Food supply
In 2000, each day we consume about 330 tonnes of
marine fish .
Conservation
Destructive fishing practices such as the use of explosive,
toxic substances, electricity, dredging and suction
devices for the purpose of fishing are detrimental to
fisheries and the marine ecosystem and are prohibited
under the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap 171).
Biological Interest
Seagrass is the only flowering plant
surviving wholly submerged in marine waters.
There are four seagrass species in Hong
Kong. They are Halophila beccarii, H. ovata,
Ruppia maritima and Zostera japonica.
Seagrass is important to coastal
ecosystem. It provides shelter, food and
nursery ground for a variety of marine fauna
at the coastal area. It also plays an
important role in carbon flow and nutrient
recycling in the coastal environment.
Halophila beccarii
Zostera japonica
Halophila ovata
Distribution
Occur mostly in shallow, sheltered soft-bottom
marine coastlines and estuaries of the world.
Rare in Hong Kong.
Mainly distribute in the coastal area of Northwestern and North-eastern parts of the New
Territories (e.g. Pak Nai and Lai Chi Wo). Some
seagrasses are also found in San Tau, Tai Ho Wan
and Sheung Sze Wan.
Lai Chi Wo
San Tau
Sponges
Molluscs
Cnidarians
Arthropods
Marine worms
Echinoderms
Chordates
Abundance of dolphin in Hong Kong
•About 1028 dolphins
found in the Pearl River
Estuary and Hong Kong
waters
Conservation status
The Chinese white dolphin are protected locally by the
Wild Animals Protection Ordinance (Cap. 170). Import
and export of this species is also restricted under the
Animals and Plants (Protection of Endangered Species)
Ordinance (Cap. 187).
Habit
Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) is one of the 3 species of
sea turtles found in Hong Kong waters and so far has been
the only species known to breed locally. Like other sea
turtles, Green Turtles return to nest at the beach where
they were hatched.
Conservation status
Green Turtle is a highly endangered species listed
under the Appendix I of the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Sea Turtle Nesting Site - Sham Wan
The sandy beach at Sham Wan, Lamma Island is the
only Green Turtle nesting site known in Hong Kong.
The site is very important to the survival of this highly
endangered species in both the local and regional context.
In order to minimize disturbance to the sea turtles, their
nests and eggs, there is a need to restrict access to the
beach area during the nesting season.
Yat Chau Tong
Hoi Ha Wan
Sha Chau &
Lung Kwu Chau
Cape D’AguilarMarine
Reserve
Yan Chau Tong Marine Park
The Yan Chau Tong Marine Park comprises of
two separate parts with a total sea area of about
680 hectares. A wide variety of landforms. Such
as bays, projecting headlands, peninsulars, rock
cliffs, sand pits and beaches can be found within
the area, creating diversified beach types
ranging from mudflat to rocky shores.
Features of particular ecological importance in
the marine park include a diversity of
stony corals and the marine eel grass
(Zostera japonica) which is rare in
the tropics.
Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park
The Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park is a
sheltered bay situated at the northern
coastline of the Sai Kung Peninsula. The
marine park covers an area of about 260
hectares.
Being a sheltered bay and with good
water quality, the sea area provides a
good environment for corals to flourish.
The coral communities are different
from tropical reef.
Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park
Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park is situated in
the open waters of the western part of Hong Kong. It
covers a sea area of about 1,200 hectares.
This is part of the sea area in Hong Kong where IndoPacific Hump-backed Dolphin, Chinese White Dolphin are
most often found.
Existing compatible recreational activities, such as
dolphin watch would be permitted
Cape D'Aguilar Marine Reserve
The Cape D'Aguilar Marine Reserve covers a sea area of
about 20 hectares.
The area of Cape D'Aguilar is of high biological,
geomorphological and geological interest. It consists of
good examples of both exposed and sheltered rocky shore,
which are typical of any of the south easterly directed
capes and headlands in Hong Kong.
The coastal flora and fauna of the site are rich and their
zonations are typical.
Website
Hong Kong Marine Parks
http://parks.afcd.gov.hk/marine/newmp/index.htm
Agriculture,Fisheries and Conservation Department
http://www.afcd.gov.hk/web/index_e.htm
Marinelife in Hong Kong
http://www.marinelife.com.hk/