Photos | HK coral reefs remain in generally good health with high levels of species diversity

Hong Kong

2024.12.09 09:19

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced on Dec. 8 the results of the Hong Kong Reef Check 2024 which showed that despite the impact of bleaching this summer, local corals are generally in healthy condition and species diversity remains on the high side.

The Hong Kong Reef Check 2024, a five-month program started in June, covered a wide range of locations including a number of sites of ecological importance as well as the best coral sites known in the eastern part of Hong Kong waters, spanning from Tung Ping Chau in the north to the Ninepin Group in the south. Among the 33 survey sites, nine were within marine parks, including Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park, Yan Chau Tong Marine Park and Tung Ping Chau Marine Park.

2 Reef Check divers are conducting a coral survey. (HK. gov)

Voluntary dive teams of Reef Check personnel followed international standards when conducting the surveys and data collection. These teams recorded different coral coverage among the survey sites, ranging from 12.8 percent to 75.1 percent, with the highest coral coverage recorded at Coral Beach of Hoi Ha Wan. Eleven sites recorded coral coverage exceeding 50 percent, with five of these located sites within marine parks. In addition, dive teams measured the color intensity of corals with a specially designed Coral Health Monitoring Chart for Coral Watch when conducting surveys to evaluate the health condition of corals; the deeper the colour, the healthier the corals. The average health index of the sites was 3.95 this year, which remains well above the general average value of 3, indicating that the corals are generally in healthy condition.

Coral communities at Sharp Island. (HK. gov)

Staghorn corals at the Ninepin Group. (HK. gov)

In addition to recording coral coverage and health conditions, Reef Check divers also recorded an abundance of specific indicator species (20 assigned species of fish and invertebrates) when conducting surveys. All indicator species were recorded in the survey sites, including wrasses, butterfly fishes, groupers, sea cucumbers, sea urchins and cowries that were found in abundance. A majority of the survey sites were found to have a high species diversity. Most of the groupers, wrasses, sweetlips and snappers were observed in survey sites in Port Shelter, Sai Kung; eastern waters; and Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park.

A blue swimming crab at the Ninepin Group. (HK. gov)

Butterfly fishes and staghorn corals at Sharp Island. (HK. gov)

A peacock-tail anemone shrimp at Port Island. (HK. gov)

No signs of destructive fishing practices were observed at any sites. Abandoned nets were found at 12 sites but their impact was minor. The AFCD will arrange for their removal.

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