Involved Members: Dr. Leo Lai CHAN, Prof. Kenneth Mei Yee LEUNG, Prof. Jianwen QIU

Victoria Harbour was a highly developed area with water pollution in the past, which was caused by discharging sewage and reclamation projects. To rectify the problem, the Hong Kong SAR Government implemented the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) to collect and treat the wastewater. The scheme had implemented to phase 2a, aiming to improve water conditions, coupled with the cessation of reclamation. However, a comprehensive and systematic investigation into the distribution, extent, diversity, and coverage of coral communities within the harbour has not been conducted.

With the funding support from Environment and Conservation Fund of the Hong Kong SAR Government, SKLMP Associate Director Dr. Leo Chan and his team conducted the first-ever comprehensive underwater survey on benthic ecosystems in Victoria Harbour, providing valuable insights into their health status and recovery trajectory. The study, which encompassed the natural coastlines of Victoria Harbour, including the eastern part near Tseung Kwan O and Hong Kong Island, employed an innovative underwater mapping technique to comprehensively assess the habitat's status. This included the application of a sea drop camera for screening the natural benthic habitats, an underwater information system (UWIS) for underwater mapping, a geographical information system (GIS) and computational estimation of coral coverage.

The survey reported a total of 35 sessile epifauna species in Victoria Harbour. Among these, researchers recorded 4 black coral species, 16 Scleractinia coral species, and 15 octocoral species, revealing a rich biodiversity within the harbour area. These findings underscore the potential for the recovery of benthic habitats and the restoration of marine ecosystems in the vicinity. Meanwhile, the map-sharing with the public will also have a positive effect on reducing the damage to corals.