This year’s Reef Check showed that local corals are generally in a healthy and stable condition and exhibit a rich diversity of fauna species, the Agriculture, Fisheries & Conservation Department announced today.
The four-month exercise started in June and covered marine areas in the eastern part of Hong Kong extending from Tung Ping Chau in the north to the Ninepin Group in the south. Among the 33 survey sites, nine were within the Hoi Ha Wan, Yan Chau Tong and Tung Ping Chau marine parks.
A variation in coral coverage, ranging from 21.9% to 79.4%, was recorded among the survey sites. Nineteen sites recorded high coral coverage of over 50%, and Hoi Ha Wan’s coral beach recorded the highest coral coverage of 79.4%.
Most of the survey sites were found to have a high species diversity. All of the 20 assigned indicator species were recorded in the survey sites, with wrasses, groupers, butterfly fish, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and cowries commonly found.
Many groupers, wrasses, snappers and sweetlips were found in Port Shelter and in north-eastern waters, including the three marine parks.
The check also assessed the condition of corals at nine sites using the Coral Watch tool. The average health index of the nine sites was 4.34, similar to last year’s 4.23, which is well above the general average value of 3, indicating corals were in a healthy and stable condition.
Coral bleaching and some coral damage were observed at a few sites but the impact was minor and localised.
Sixty-three dive teams comprising more than 650 volunteer divers from different sectors of the community took part in the check this year.
