Diving in Sai KungDiving in Sai KungBaseline ConditionsBaseline Conditions

Andries TemmeAndries Temme

Susan VoelklSusan Voelkl

ContentContent

IntroductionIntroduction Baseline conditionsBaseline conditions

– EnvironmentEnvironment– EconomyEconomy– SocialSocial– GovernmentGovernment

Stakeholder capabilities and Stakeholder capabilities and awarenessawareness

IntroductionIntroduction

StatisticStatistic– > 20.000 divers in HK (estimation AFCD)> 20.000 divers in HK (estimation AFCD)– Number of diving agenciesNumber of diving agencies– DiversDivers

Impact of diving on enviromentImpact of diving on enviroment– Pick up things under waterPick up things under water– Food dumpingFood dumping– Suntan, shampoo, etcSuntan, shampoo, etc– Boats -> pollutionBoats -> pollution– Disturbance of delicate ecosystemDisturbance of delicate ecosystem– Overland pollution (transport to Sai Kung)Overland pollution (transport to Sai Kung)

EnvironmentEnvironment

Subtropical environment Subtropical environment 11

– Water temperatures 30°C - 13CWater temperatures 30°C - 13C– Wet season March - SeptemberWet season March - September– 5 - 6 typhoons / year over past 18 years5 - 6 typhoons / year over past 18 years– Pearl river influence highest in the west, Pearl river influence highest in the west,

more oceanic to the eastmore oceanic to the east SK specifics SK specifics 22

– Strong riverine influences (pearl river)Strong riverine influences (pearl river)– High coastal influence (eutrophication, High coastal influence (eutrophication,

pollution)pollution)– Silt Silt Murky water Murky water

EnvironmentEnvironment

Biodiversity Biodiversity 11

– Quite highQuite high– Species from temperate & tropical Species from temperate & tropical

regionsregions– Seasonal (summer high) Seasonal (summer high) – Winter: fish retreat into coral Winter: fish retreat into coral

frameworkframework

Environment Environment

CoralsCorals– No true coral reefs - fringing communities No true coral reefs - fringing communities 11

– Found around northeast & eastern watersFound around northeast & eastern waters– Very important for biodiversity Very important for biodiversity 1,2,3,41,2,3,4

Sai Kung coral specificsSai Kung coral specifics– Location mapLocation map– High coral cover varianceHigh coral cover variance– Fairly UnhealtyFairly Unhealty

EnvironmentEnvironment

Threats to coral communities Threats to coral communities 11

– Natural disturbanceNatural disturbance– Coastal developmentCoastal development– Marine and land-based pollutionMarine and land-based pollution– DiseaseDisease– Over fishing & Destructive fishingOver fishing & Destructive fishing

Threats by diversThreats by divers– Disturbance of fish Disturbance of fish – Sedimentation Sedimentation 44

– Touching/breaking coral Touching/breaking coral 33

Influences species composition Influences species composition 33

EnvironmentEnvironment

Marine protected areas (AFCD)Marine protected areas (AFCD)– Created under Marine Parks Ordinance 2001Created under Marine Parks Ordinance 2001– Increasing number of studiesIncreasing number of studies– 4 Marine parks4 Marine parks

Hoi Ha Wan, Yan Chau TongHoi Ha Wan, Yan Chau TongSha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau, Tung Ping ChauSha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau, Tung Ping Chau

– 1 Marine reserve1 Marine reserve Cape d’AguilarCape d’Aguilar

Fishing allowed under licencing systemFishing allowed under licencing system– Only original inhabitantsOnly original inhabitants– Using non destructive methodsUsing non destructive methods

EnvironmentEnvironment

Special “please don’t anchor here” Special “please don’t anchor here” zones in SK zones in SK – Sharp IslandSharp Island– Ung Kong wan (Bluff Island)Ung Kong wan (Bluff Island)

EnvironmentEnvironment

Does it work?Does it work?– Yes, comparative data (Tung Ping Chau) Yes, comparative data (Tung Ping Chau)

shows increase in fish & coral abundance shows increase in fish & coral abundance 11

Data exists only for Tung Ping ChauData exists only for Tung Ping Chau

Researched protection sitesResearched protection sites– Fan Lau, Soko Island Group, Southern Fan Lau, Soko Island Group, Southern

Lamma Island, Kat O Chau, Ngo Mei Chau, Lamma Island, Kat O Chau, Ngo Mei Chau, Tai Long Wan, Long Ke Wan, Bluff Island and Tai Long Wan, Long Ke Wan, Bluff Island and Nine Pine IslandNine Pine Island

– Bluff Island and Long Ke Wan are in the Sai Bluff Island and Long Ke Wan are in the Sai Kung areaKung area

EnvironmentEnvironment

Planned changes Planned changes 11

– Initiate fishing license scheme whereby Initiate fishing license scheme whereby all commercial fishing vessels must be all commercial fishing vessels must be licensed with the governmentlicensed with the government

– Create 2 large Fisheries Protection Areas Create 2 large Fisheries Protection Areas (FPAs) in Port Shelter & Tolo Harbour (FPAs) in Port Shelter & Tolo Harbour and Channel in eastern & northeastern and Channel in eastern & northeastern waterswaters

– Extend fishing ban carried out in waters Extend fishing ban carried out in waters surrounding Hong Kong in June and Julysurrounding Hong Kong in June and July

SocialSocial

TransportTransport– Short Window Short Window – Sunday 08:30 – 09:15Sunday 08:30 – 09:15– Mainly people come by busMainly people come by bus

Divers -> HK locals, regular customersDivers -> HK locals, regular customers– Diving Community Diving Community

Weekly club nights (Marine Divers)Weekly club nights (Marine Divers) ServicesServices

– 2 recompression chambers in HK2 recompression chambers in HK

EconomicsEconomics

HK = no popular tourist destination for HK = no popular tourist destination for waterrelated activities waterrelated activities

Diving activities more & more popularDiving activities more & more popular– SARS impact – many people stayed in HK, SARS impact – many people stayed in HK,

discovered parksdiscovered parks Big business – 20 to 50pax per boat, Big business – 20 to 50pax per boat,

every Sunday (besides Dez & Jan) every Sunday (besides Dez & Jan) X people work in diving sectorX people work in diving sector X companies with X boats X companies with X boats

– 36 companies are members of HKUA36 companies are members of HKUA

EconomicsEconomics

High season & low seasonHigh season & low season– All year long, low season Dec. – Jan. All year long, low season Dec. – Jan.

Costs of Diving trip: 3 dives incl. full Costs of Diving trip: 3 dives incl. full equipment and meals: $ 600equipment and meals: $ 600

Saturated marketSaturated market Money into SK? Almost no benefit (?)Money into SK? Almost no benefit (?)

– FoodFood– Diving BoatsDiving Boats

GovernmentGovernment

No governmental restricions diving in SKNo governmental restricions diving in SK Marine parksMarine parks No Marine parks in SKNo Marine parks in SK

– 2 “please don’t anchor here” zones2 “please don’t anchor here” zones PoliticsPolitics

– Responsible for marine parks & Responsible for marine parks & conservation efforts on coral: AFCD & Marine conservation efforts on coral: AFCD & Marine park policepark police

GovernmentGovernment

LegislationLegislation– No legislation concerning SCUBA divingNo legislation concerning SCUBA diving– Some legislation concerning marine Some legislation concerning marine

wildlifewildlife– Some restrictions -> activities in Marine Some restrictions -> activities in Marine

ParksParks Licenced fishingLicenced fishing No anchoringNo anchoring Monitoring by Marine Park PoliceMonitoring by Marine Park Police

GovernmentGovernment

EducationEducation– Distribution of flyers to boats in the Distribution of flyers to boats in the

“please don’t anchor here” zones“please don’t anchor here” zones– Distribution of information to schoolsDistribution of information to schools– Special stickers for dive boatsSpecial stickers for dive boats– Small museum on coralSmall museum on coral– Trying to raise awareness on marine Trying to raise awareness on marine

lifelife

GovernmentGovernment

Government participation in ReefcheckGovernment participation in Reefcheck– Only monitoring programme to monitor coral Only monitoring programme to monitor coral

communities outside Marine Protected Areascommunities outside Marine Protected Areas Recommendations ReefcheckRecommendations Reefcheck

– Better Management of tourist activities. Better Management of tourist activities. Divers should be monitored, regulated, Divers should be monitored, regulated, controlled. controlled.

– Less than 2% of marine area currently under Less than 2% of marine area currently under protection – need for comprehensive plan! protection – need for comprehensive plan! EnlargementEnlargement

Stakeholder Stakeholder Awareness and Awareness and CapacitiesCapacities NGOs / NPOsNGOs / NPOs

– HK Marine Conservation SocietyHK Marine Conservation Society– WWF – HK Big Fish countWWF – HK Big Fish count– Most of them other focusMost of them other focus

GovernmentGovernment– AFCD Lack of resourcesAFCD Lack of resources– Desire of enlargement marine park Desire of enlargement marine park

areasareas

Stakeholder Stakeholder Awareness and Awareness and CapacitiesCapacities Diving AgenciesDiving Agencies

– No awareness about No awareness about Disturbance due to underwater trafficDisturbance due to underwater traffic Pollution due to boat trafficPollution due to boat traffic Pollution due to overland traffic on SundayPollution due to overland traffic on Sunday

– Desire: Marinepark in SK, no anchoringDesire: Marinepark in SK, no anchoring HKUA - HK Underwater AssociationHKUA - HK Underwater Association SK residentsSK residents

– Marginally involved (?)Marginally involved (?)

ReferencesReferences

1.1. Ang Jr., P.O., Choi, L.S., Cornish, A., Fung, H.L., Lee, Ang Jr., P.O., Choi, L.S., Cornish, A., Fung, H.L., Lee, M.W., Lin, T.P., Ma, W.C., Tam, M.C., Wong, S.Y., M.W., Lin, T.P., Ma, W.C., Tam, M.C., Wong, S.Y., 2004. 3.2 Hong Kong. Status of Coral Reefs in East 2004. 3.2 Hong Kong. Status of Coral Reefs in East Asian Seas Region, 121-152.Asian Seas Region, 121-152.

2.2. Fabricius, K.E., McCorry, D., 2006. Changes in Fabricius, K.E., McCorry, D., 2006. Changes in octocoral communities and benthic cover along a octocoral communities and benthic cover along a water quality gradient in the reefs of Hong Kong. water quality gradient in the reefs of Hong Kong. Marine Pollution Bulletin 52, 22–33.Marine Pollution Bulletin 52, 22–33.

3. Hawkins, J.P., Roberts, C.M., Van’t Hof, T., De Meyer, K., Tratalos, J., Aldam, C., 1999. Effects of Recreational Scuba Diving on Caribbean Coral and Fish Communities. Conservation Biology 13, 888-897.

4.4. Zakai, D., Chadwick-Furman, N.E., 2002. Zakai, D., Chadwick-Furman, N.E., 2002. Impacts of intensive recreational diving on reef corals at Eilat, northern Red Sea. Biological Conservation 105, 179–187

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