The Corals of Hong Kong

4. Coral Conservation

4. Cora l Conservatio n The destruction o f coral around Hon g Kong shore s has been considerable , a s th e countles s dea d colonie s i n proximit y t o spreadin g pollu tion , reclamation and dumping sites confirm. Alon g with the corals, of course, die innumerable associate s to whom the y are essential for life . These silte d skeleton s ar e a depressin g testimon y t o th e effect s o f careless development , lac k o f planning an d ignoranc e o f ecology. Many o f thes e area s wer e flourishing a s recently a s ten year s ago . Long-time sailor s an d diver s repor t case s where the y hav e personall y seen th e declin e o f marin e life . Som e tel l o f coral , no w replace d b y hardier specie s of barnacles an d oysters , attache d t o mooring rope s at anchorages suc h a s Hebe Haven . It is known tha t several specific examples of Hong Kong's colourfu l reef life hav e disappeared fro m loca l waters. Mushroom coral , Fungia, and th e branching Pocillopora ar e among th e specie s o f coral reporte d and collected by Hon g Kon g Universit y researcher s in the 1950s , but they have not bee n foun d i n recen t years and ar e presumably extinct . Other species , such as Acropora and the distinctive Galaxea are well on the way t o loca l extinction . Similarly, a t leas t tw o exquisit e ree f associate s ar e know n t o hav e succumbed t o th e poor conditions . Th e giant clam , Tridacna maxima, used t o occu r here , a s di d th e penci l urchin , Heterocentrotus mammillatus. The disappearance o f these species has been noticed because they are conspicuous an d easily recognized — but how man y others have gone and no t bee n noticed ? The responsibilit y fo r thi s destruction lies , ultimately, i n th e hand s of th e Hon g Kon g Government . I n governmen t hands , too , lie s th e solution to this pressing problem. Three major conservatio n reports — Conservation of the Hong Kong Countryside (Talbo t an d Talbot , 1965) ; Report of the Provisional Council forthe Use and Conservation of the Countryside , 1968; and the Interim Report of the Hong Kong Advisory Committee for Recreational Development and Nature Conservation (Hong Kong Island), 1971 — hav e ha d littl e noticeabl e effec t o n polic y an d th e various recommendations have not been adopted (including, notably, a marine reserv e o n Shar p Islan d suggeste d i n th e 196 8 report). Only at a government level can the needed reforms be introduced. A comprehensive, balance d polic y regardin g loca l water s woul d minimize th e effects o f an overcrowded populatio n an d maximiz e th e use of safe, clea n an d pleasant recreationa l areas . Below ar e outlined a number o f specifi c area s in whic h improvement s shoul d b e made. i. O f primar y importanc e i s immediate legislatio n t o enforce treat ment o f both domesti c and industrial sewage. Controls must be rigid, based o n saf e an d acceptabl e standard s whic h ar e recognize d a s no t dangerous to marine life and World Health Organization standard s for human health . Man y gazette d beache s reac h colifor m count s i n sum mer which ar e far in excess of those standards. The standard s laid out in the legislation shoul d not , a s is proposed a t the time of writing, be used on levels of projected outfall s at some unspecified futur e dat e plus 30 per cent. Moreover , it is extremely important tha t th e government itself (the Public Works Department) also be bound by this legislation. ii. Hon g Kon g fisherie s shoul d b e rehabilitate d an d protecte d through legislatio n limitin g catc h an d sal e o f breedin g population s through seasona...