Hong Kong establishes its largest marine park in northern Lantau after airport expansion

City formalises 2,400 hectare park as studies show Chinese white dolphins have ‘greatly diminished’ in area since 2016 amid runway construction

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A Chinese white dolphin seen at South Lantau Marine Park in June 2021. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 12:46pm, 1 Nov 2024Updated: 9:33pm, 1 Nov 2024

Hong Kong has established its eighth and largest marine park in the waters off northern Lantau, nearly a decade after the idea was first proposed to protect Chinese white dolphins from the expansion of the city’s airport.

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department said on Friday the 2,400 hectare North Lantau Marine Park was located next to a dolphin reserve zone established in Guangdong province waters, which would allow for “better protection” of the mammal’s core habitats.

But a conservation group voiced doubts, saying just a single dolphin was recorded in North Lantau in 2022, according to the most recent data.

“The size of the marine park does not correlate with its effectiveness in protecting white dolphins,” said Viena Mak Hei-man, the vice-chairwoman of the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society.

The new park also connects with the nearby Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park and Brothers Marine Park, creating a protected area of about 4,570 hectares.

The Airport Authority in 2016 proposed the designation of North Lantau Marine Park as part of mitigation efforts for the construction of a three-runway system and its potential impact on dolphin habitats and fisheries.