Reviving Our Corals

Coral communities in Hong Kong waters face numerous threats that are also impacting the habitats of many other marine species. In June 2023, WWF-Hong Kong launched the three-year “Reviving Our Corals” initiative in collaboration with the Coral Academy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, aiming to actively restore these precious corals by taking a scientific approach that utilises local materials and Nature-based Solutions.

With the support of The Swire Group Charitable Trust, IPX Corporation (Hong Kong & Macau) and Patagonia, we have been enhancing our laboratory facilities by establishing two coral nursery aquaria systems at the Hoi Ha Marine Life Centre. These additions have given us the capacity to rescue and nurture over 250 coral fragments simultaneously and provide optimal conditions for their recovery.

Supported by The Swire Group Charitable Trust, during the past year, we conducted several coral outplanting and restoration training workshops. Before rolling out the workshops, we organised closed diving events and invited 60 advanced divers and scuba diving instructors to evaluate the itinerary. The ultimate goal was to give public divers the opportunity to observe experts from the Coral Academy as they outplanted corals that had been nurtured at the Hoi Ha Marine Life Centre, and obtain hands-on experience in restoring degraded coral sites in the Tolo Channel.

The Reviving Our Corals initiative, in collaboration with the Coral Academy, entered its second year in 2024

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Two new coral nursery aquaria systems were established at the Hoi Ha Marine Life Centre this year

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Volunteer divers gained hands-on experience during our coral outplanting and restoration training workshops

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Since July 2023, we have achieved a number of significant coral restoration milestones. Our dedicated Oceans Conservation team, in partnership with the Coral Academy, has rescued and nurtured more than 500 “Corals of Opportunity”, or coral fragments, with 385 successfully outplanted in the Tolo Harbour and Channel. This success is a direct result of meticulous water quality monitoring and the expansion of our coral nursery tanks, bringing us closer to our goal of nurturing 1,000 corals that will support ongoing research.

We are confident that the Reviving Our Corals initiative will create significant positive impacts on the revitalisation of Hong Kong’s coral habitats. Together, we are making a meaningful difference in the conservation and restoration of our invaluable underwater environments.

385 Corals of Opportunity have been successfully outplanted in the Tolo Harbour and Channel so far

Public education plays a crucial role in our coral restoration work. This year, we introduced a number of education programmes to promote and bolster the Reviving Our Corals initiative.

Supported by the Environment and Conservation Fund, our Education team launched the 18-month Coral Restoration Action project. Its goal is to promote coral conservation awareness at schools and in communities to help everyone understand the importance of protecting these essential marine creatures and their habitats. As a dynamic learning hub for coral and marine conservation, the Hoi Ha Marine Life Centre is a crucial part of this initiative.

So far, the project has created a set of exhibition panels, currently displaying next to the coral nursery tank at the Centre. These give visitors clear insights into the coral restoration efforts underway within. The team also hosted eco-visits, helping the participants learn about coral conservation and engage in citizen science activities.

Professional development workshops were organised for primary and secondary school teachers, equipping educators with tools and strategies to effectively communicate coral conservation messages throughout Hong Kong’s school sector. Coral restoration expert from our close partner, the Coral Academy, was also invited to be the guest speaker and share her fascinating experiences.

Looking to the future, we are developing a variety of interpretive materials, including posters and videos, that will highlight the importance of coral research and conservation in Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park. Our teaching and learning resources, which also include an environmental board game and a comprehensive teaching pack focused on coral nurseries and conservation, are specially tailored to schools and community groups.

The establishment of the new coral nursery tanks at Hoi Ha Marine Life Centre is undoubtedly enhancing our education programmes. Through engaging hands-on activities, participants had the incredible opportunities to explore this vibrant marine ecosystem and deepen their understanding of our coral restoration work.

Panels displaying next to a coral nursery tank at the Hoi Ha Marine Life Centre

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Teachers on a glass-bottomed boat tour visited underwater coral communities at Hoi Ha Wan

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Students learnt about the coral nursery process and its ecological function through hands-on experiences

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Teachers visited our laboratory facilities and observed coral nursery tanks

In 2023, we launched the “Sea for Future III” project, funded by The Swire Group Charitable Trust. Its primary aim is to revitalise marine ecosystems through Nature-based Solutions, and one of the project’s highlights is to conduct pioneer research to pilot the restoration of Hong Kong’s seagrass beds.

Seagrasses account for 10% of total ocean carbon storage, despite covering less than 0.1% of the sea floor. They protect coastlines and provide vital habitats and feeding grounds for diverse marine species. Unfortunately, seagrasses are globally threatened, disappearing at an alarming rate of 7% per year. In Hong Kong, seagrass habitats are also threatened by various stresses, including rapid development, anthropogenic activities etc.

This year, we planned a diverse range of interventions to raise awareness about seagrass and conserve seagrass beds in Hong Kong. We collaborated with Professor Juan Diego Gaitan Espitia and his research team from the Swire Institute of Marine Science at the University of Hong Kong to explore effective methods of restoring local seagrass beds.

We established an educational seagrass nursery tank at the Hoi Ha Marine Life Centre to assist in public engagement. We also conducted pilot restoration trials that involved members of the public in restoring seagrass beds while educating them about their significance, offering participants hands-on experience in conducting seagrass surveys. In parallel, we developed a guide featuring seagrass identification tips, and kayaking guidelines to teach recreational kayakers about seagrasses and environmental protection.

Seagrasses provide vital habitats for diverse marine species such as Horseshoe crabs

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Families joined a seagrass restoration pilot workshop, helping to restore seagrass beds in Sai Kung

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Seagrasses are an important part of climate change mitigation and help maintain the ecological balance

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The project also emphasises ocean accounting, advocates for strategic Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) and promotes effective ocean governance.

The ocean has no boundary, understanding the feature of marine ecosystem services and value of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) would facilitate a better strategy planning. This year, WWF-Hong Kong launched a regional ocean accounting study in collaboration with WWF-China and Dr Baolong Han from the Research Center for Eco- Environmental Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The study integrates ocean accounting with the GEP framework, helping quantify the economic and social contributions of ecosystem services like climate regulation and ecotourism.

Using the accounting concept of Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP), preliminary results show that the coastal ecosystems of the GBA contribute an astounding estimated RMB 4.9 trillion of ecosystem services to the area. This underlines the necessity of revealing the full economic and ecological value of marine environments. Through this pilot study, WWF and Dr Han’s team demonstrated the practical applications of effective MSP and conservation policies aligned with national objectives.

In July 2024, we organised a workshop to introduce both the GEP framework and the study. In October, we hosted a sub-forum at the China Marine Economy Expo (CMEE) in Shenzhen to present some preliminary study results. The findings provided essential data to support Hong Kong’s MSP efforts, and will help promote sustainable solutions for both nature and society.

Lydia Pang, our Head of Oceans Conservation shared her insights at the forum

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The sub-forum titled “Ocean Accounting to Accelerate Marine Conservation in the Greater Bay Area Seminar” at the 2024 CMEE

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At the “Quantifying Hong Kong’s Blue Capital with Ocean Accounting Framework” workshop, attendees explored the concept of ocean accounting and its potential applications in mainland China

In 2018, WWF-Hong Kong began establishing a strong conservation foundation at Shui Hau on Lantau Island, employing a combination of ecological surveys, public education and active community engagement. This year, we launched two initiatives, “Discover Shui Hau” and “Smart Shui Hau”, to aid in the development of a holistic management plan for the area by boosting community involvement, education and visitor management.

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Discover Shui Hau

This three-year initiative, a collaboration between WWF-Hong Kong, Sino Group, and Clearbot, seeks to foster public appreciation of the ecological beauty of Shui Hau while employing innovative technologies to clean up marine debris and protect the area’s precious habitats.

We conducted several mural painting workshops, inviting local villagers and artists to create vibrant murals which showcased the unique culture and ecology of Shui Hau. We completed four murals that reflect the village’s dynamic daily life, natural scenery and biodiversity.

During the peak clam-digging season this summer, we set up educational booths and distributed clam gauges, reminding visitors not to take undersized clams to minimise the ecological impact of their clam digging activities. We also organised guided tours and sandflat clean-up events, inviting local students to be conservation and sustainable development ambassadors.

WWF-Hong Kong promoted conservation at Shui Hau using a multi-pronged approach, combining community engagement, public education and habitat management

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Students learnt about marine conservation through hands-on experience

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Smart Shui Hau

The “Smart Shui Hau” project is supported by the Sustainable Lantau Office, Civil Engineering and Development Department. The project focuses on utilising a Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tool (SMART) platform to monitor visitors and the environment using wireless Internet of Things (IoT) technology.

We installed a visitor counting system using infrared sensors at the two entrances of the Shui Hau sandflat to gather data on the number of visitors entering and exiting the area every day. We also deployed water level sensors to continuously monitor tidal changes.

Additionally, we distributed trackers to visitors to gather information on their location and duration of stay during the clamming season, aiming to investigate whether human activities overlap with horseshoe crab hotspots. This data will be used to assess the impact of human activities on the ecosystem and develop more effective environmental management strategies.

A pilot visitor management study was also implemented to trial the establishment of a no-go zone within the ecologically sensitive area for horseshoe crabs. This aimed to assess the frequency of visitors’ intrusions into the area and explore potential measures for better visitor management at Shui Hau in the future.

Water level sensors were set up on the Shui Hau shoreline to monitor water levels around the clock, providing real-time data on tidal changes

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A visitor counting system uses infrared sensors to collect data on the number of visitors entering and exiting the Shui Hau sandflat every day

Over the past year, we promoted a sustainable blue economy through key projects and events. Through initiatives like Sustainable Seafood Week and the Sustainable Ocean seminar, we fostered partnerships between businesses and the conservation sector to protect our oceans.

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Sustainable Seafood Week

In January 2024, we organised Sustainable Seafood Week to raise public awareness and provide accessible options for responsible purchasing and consumption. Themed “Feast for Future”, this week-long event featured several collaborations with local businesses. Ten members of our Sustainable Seafood Business Membership Programme, representing over 220 outlets, actively participated in the event by showcasing their sustainable seafood products.

A WWF-Hong Kong representative sharing insights and encouraging sustainable seafood consumption

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Sustainable Ocean Seminar

On 21 June 2024, we hosted a Sustainable Ocean Seminar to address marine conservation challenges. Our Corporate members and Sustainable Seafood Business members attended, engaging in meaningful discussions on how to bridge gaps between marine conservation and corporate sustainability.

The Sustainable Ocean Seminar brought together stakeholders from diverse sectors to explore potential synergies between corporate sustainability efforts and marine conservation

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ReThink 2024

WWF-Hong Kong was a Content Partner at ReThink HK, facilitating panel discussions on the sustainable blue economy and nature-positive development. Industry leaders inspired delegates, while hundreds engaged in discussions and explored collaborations at our booth, indicating a growing commitment to nature conservation and biodiversity protection.

Panel discussed strategies for sustainable marine resource management and long-term blue economy development

In December 2023, we introduced our “Environment and Conservation Fund Turning the Tides - Underwater Surveys, Clean-ups and Beyond” project to reduce problematic marine plastics. The project has two key pillars: the Ocean Health Survey and the Oceannovator programme.

The Ocean Health Survey, in partnership with the Agricultural, Fisheries and Conservation Department and the Reef Check Foundation – Hong Kong, expanded existing annual reef checks to include marine litter data collection. Citizen scientists taking part in the survey were trained and could join additional workshops on coral restoration, marine litter and ghost gear retrieval.

The Oceannovator programme united various stakeholders who worked together to develop innovative marine litter recycling solutions. We launched the programme in April with a forum to explore solutions in transforming marine litter into useful materials. Stakeholders including up-cyclers and ghost gear retrieval volunteer groups showed enthusiasm in finding wayouts for local marine litter.

Citizen scientists conducted the Ocean Health Survey by collecting data on marine litter when participating in reef checks