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Stephanie Tsui

Fish are friends – not just food.
That is the message marine researcher Stan Shea Kwok-ho, 36, hopes will hit home with Hongkongers.
“We recognise the need to protect endangered terrestrial species, but tend to associate fish and marine animals with seafood,” says Shea, who is a programme director at Bloom Association, a local marine conservation NGO.
“We have a birdwatching society, for example, but none for fish. That is one reason why I’m interested in marine conservation.”

There are more than 1,000 marine fish species within Hong Kong waters, including gobies, wrasses, groupers, jacks and snappers – and researchers like Shea continue to discover more.
In 2014, Bloom launched the 114°E Survey, which aims to improve baseline knowledge of Hong Kong’s reef fish through scientific underwater surveys by citizen scientists, with the guidance and supervision of the project’s marine researchers.
Hong Kong’s marine life diversity spurs renewed scientific interest
With this data, the researchers hope to inform government policy on marine protection, in addition to encouraging further studies on marine reef fish and wildlife, and promoting an appreciation of them.
They believe there are not enough protected areas, and existing data on reef fish species is outdated.
“The goal is to identify biodiversity hot spots by updating the kinds of species Hong Kong has, where they are and how abundant they are,” Shea says.

Once a week from May to November, Shea and Bloom programme coordinator Kathleen Ho Ka-yau would hop on a boat and head for waters to the east of Hong Kong and near to the Pacific Ocean, where they would spend all day diving – recording and photographing the reef fish species they have spotted.
Unlike Shea, who was a research student in marine biology at the University of Hong Kong, Ho was trained in the arts. She admits she did not know what to look out for as all fish looked the same to her at first.
Slowly, she developed an appreciation for ocean life. Recalling an encounter with a school of amber jack, Ho says: “When sunlight hits them, they shimmer, and they dance around you. It was so unexpected because the amber jack you see at restaurants are always alone in a tank.”
Over the past five years, Shea and Ho have surveyed more than 60 sites, including those in Sai Kung, Tai Po and Stanley, and found 19 new reef fish species in the process.
Plastic pollution: four shocking examples of its impact on marine life
The data and photos collected from their survey will be published on a website that will be launched at the end of this month. 
“I’m really proud of this project,” says Shea. “People are even approaching us for data and photos.”
But the pair do not do it alone. Every week, about 20 volunteers join them on the survey.
Kamy Yeung, a 32-year-old teacher, joined Bloom on her first dive four years ago, hoping to learn more about the characteristics of sea creatures and the threat they might face.
She hopes the reef fish photographs she has taken for the survey would help show Hongkongers the beauty of their city’s underwater world, so they might be inspired to preserve and protect it.
“I’m sure everyone enjoys having a clean ocean for leisure or exploration. We only need to do a small part, such as reducing the use of plastic, to improve the condition of our ecosystem,” Yeung says.

Fellow diver Caron Wong, a clerk who is in his 40s, has been volunteering for Bloom for more than six years. Although he did not have any professional knowledge in marine biology at first, Wong says the team’s dedication to preserving marine life inspired him to contribute to the fish survey.
“This means a lot to me because I love the ocean. To me, it’s also a big achievement to be able to provide groups like the government with data.”
Bloom and their citizen scientists hope their survey can help indicate areas that are ecologically important, especially to reef fish species. Eventually, they hope their data would be able to convince the government to expand marine protected areas.
“Hong Kong isn’t really known for its wildlife, yet you can have dozens of fish species in one small area. It’s a world that the average Hongkonger wouldn’t know of, and we hope to raise awareness about it,” says Ho.


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City Weekend

Hong Kong marine life under-valued, says Bloom Association boss, who wants fish to be seen as more than just food

Kathleen Ho and Stan Shea, from the Bloom Association, pictured with volunteers pose for a photograph on a junk boat at Sai Kung Pier, want to see a wider appreciation of fish in Hong Kong. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Yu-De Pei (right) and Vriko Yu Pik-fan check the coral (Platygra) on the sea bed in Hoi Ha Wan, Sai Kung, Hong Kong. 05DEC18 SCMP / James Wendlinger [FEATURES 2018]

(L-R): Bloom Association Hong Kong’s marine programme manager Kathleen Ho and marine programme director Stan Shea pose for a photograph on a junk boat at Sai Kung Pier. 18MAY19 SCMP / Jonathan Wong

This image shows Chinese damselfish on an AFCD artificial reef in Hong Kong on August 05, 2013 PHOTO / AFCD [13DECEMBER2015 FEATURES POST MAGAZINE]

The Humphead wrasse: one of the world’s most endangered coral reef fish, and a delicacy for affluent Chinese diners

The humphead wrasse, also known as Napoleon wrasse, one of the world’s most endangered coral reef fish. Photo: Alamy

--FIRST USAGE RESERVED FOR POST MAGAZINE, CHECK BEFORE USING THIS IMAGE--Handout image shows Yvonne Sadovy (C)at a Napoleon wrasse awareness raising event.  [09JUNE2019 FEATURE POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Red Door News

--FIRST USAGE RESERVED FOR POST MAGAZINE, CHECK BEFORE USING THIS IMAGE--Handout image shows The Napoleon wrasse served to undercover activists at the Langham Hotel's T'ang Court restaurant. [09JUNE2019 FEATURE POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Red Door News

--FIRST USAGE RESERVED FOR POST MAGAZINE, CHECK BEFORE USING THIS IMAGE--Handout image shows The Napoleon wrasse served to undercover activists at the Island Shangri-La Summer Palace restaurant . [09JUNE2019 FEATURE POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Red Door News

--FIRST USAGE RESERVED FOR POST MAGAZINE, CHECK BEFORE USING THIS IMAGE--Handout image shows A Napoleon wrasse in a tank outside a restaurant in Sai Kung.  [09JUNE2019 FEATURE POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Red Door News

--FIRST USAGE RESERVED FOR POST MAGAZINE, CHECK BEFORE USING THIS IMAGE--Handout image shows Peninsula chef Florian Trento who introduced a ban on Napoleon wrasse in 2016. [09JUNE2019 FEATURE POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Red Door News

The insect apocalypse is coming: Hong Kong moth study shows the threats and complexities

A Mecodina bisignata moth, just one of several tropical species that recently arrived in Hong Kong, and is now quite common. Photo: Martin Williams

Recently built housing blocks beside Fung Yuen Butterfly Reserve,  in Hong Kong, February 28, 2019[31MARCH2019 FEATURE  POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Martin Williams

Dr Tim Bonebrake and Calvin Leung with a stag beetle larva in Hong Kong, February 21, 2019.[31MARCH2019 FEATURE  POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Martin Williams

Cheung Chau workers contracted by FEHD for fogging with cypermethrin insecticide vs mosquitoes but also killing other insects and wildllife  in Hong Kong, on February 17, 2019.[31MARCH2019 FEATURE  POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Martin Williams

Dr Roger Kendrick taking moth photographs, in Hong Kong, 2019.[31MARCH2019 FEATURE  POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Martin Williams

A Hawk Moth (Dahira Rubiginosa, the rosy dahira), in Hong Kong on February 27, 2019. Tens or hundreds of hawk moths were recorded in moth trapping sessions in 1980s but only three in session this session Williams joined in central New Territories, which is more typical nowadays.[31MARCH2019 FEATURE  POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Martin Williams

Stag Beetle Prosopocoilus biplagiatus larva in Calvin Leung hand, in Hong Kong, February 21, 2019.[31MARCH2019 FEATURE  POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Martin Williams

Chinese Moon Moth on Roger Kendrick's Finger, in Hong Kong, 2019[31MARCH2019 FEATURE  POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Martin Williams

Mecodina Bisignata on Roger Kendrick's tripod at end of mothing session. The Mecodina Bisignata is just one of several tropical species recently arrived now quite common in Hong Kong.[31MARCH2019 FEATURE  POST MAGAZINE] CREDIT: Martin Williams

Hong Kong diver, 66, wages marine war against ocean’s silent killers – ghost nets

Harry Chan is an experienced diver and is on a quest to rid Hong Kong’s waters of pesky ghost nets. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Handout picture from Harry Chan to show ghost net at Stanley Bay. Photo: Handout

Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019. WINNER Marine Conservation and "Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2019". Credit name: Acevedo/UPY 2019 Nationality: Spain Image caption: Caretta caretta turtle The Caretta caretta turtles spend much of their life in the open ocean. They come to the Canary Island after crossing the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean beaches. In this trip of many years they often have to avoid many dangerous traps like plastics, ropes, fishing nets etc. In this particular case it got trapped in a net and it was practically impossible to escape from it... but this day it was very lucky and could escape thanks to the help of two underwater photographers who were sailing near her.

Harry Chan Tin-ming (second from right) with divers, (from left), Bono Ng, Hidy Yu, Darrey Lo and Willian Lau clear ghost nets at Stanley. Harry Chan wants to raise the public awareness of marine pollution and call on more people to take actions in fighting marine pollution. 02JUN19 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Harry Chan diving underwater off Stanley Bay on June 2, 2019 (Photo by Willian Lau)

Coral reef (Photo by Harry Chan)

Divers Bobo Ng Yin-lok (left) and Hidy Yu Hiu-tung (right) (Photo by Willian Lau)

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment

Environmentalists are mapping populations of reef fish in bid to increase the number of protected areas around Hong Kong
Volunteers diving deep to showcase the oceans to help preserve them for generations


Marine life is underappreciated in the city, say campaigners who are diving deep to learn more about the 1,000-plus fish species in Hong Kong waters


Conservation

Environment

Hong Kong environmental issues

Hong Kong marine life under-valued, says Bloom Association boss, who wants fish to be seen as more than just food

Environmentalists are mapping populations of reef fish in bid to increase the number of protected areas around Hong Kong Volunteers diving deep to showcase the oceans to help preserve them for generations

Environmentalists are mapping populations of reef fish in bid to increase the number of protected areas around Hong Kong

Volunteers diving deep to showcase the oceans to help preserve them for generations