From large marine mammals such as dolphins and porpoises to an array of fishes, crustaceans and coral species, the range of sea-life found in Hong Kong’s waters is as captivating as it is diverse.
But for many of the approximately 6,000 species that comprise the territory’s marine ecosystem, life is getting harder year after year. Affected by overfishing, heavy boat traffic, various forms of pollution, and habitat loss caused by coastal development, a growing number of creatures that once boasted healthy populations are now classified as vulnerable or endangered, while others can no longer be found in the HKSAR at all.
According to WWF figures, Hong Kong has the second-highest per-capita seafood consumption in Asia, and is the world’s eighth-largest seafood consumer. This has been another major factor in the territory’s dwindling fish numbers and the city’s impact on fisheries elsewhere. National Geographic Explorer and Marine Programme Director at oceanic-conservation NGO Bloom Association Hong Kong, Stan Shea illustrates the extent of the problem: “Records show that, decades ago, Hong Kong had such high yields of seafood that it supported 90% of local demand. Today, at least 90% of the seafood we eat has to be imported as our waters are so overfished they can no longer support the local appetite.”
In addition to more sustainable fishing practices, retailing, and consumption the experts all point to the acute need to reduce our reliance on single-use plastics. The widespread dependence on polystyrene foam boxes in the seafood industry is a particularly serious issue, but plastic use is something that also needs to be urgently addressed at both a consumer and a corporate level.
Read more:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/paid-content-experts-weigh-in-on-how-to-save-hong-kongs-marine-life