An Introduction to the Cape d'Aguilar Marine Reserve, Hong Kong

PREFACE

PREFACE฀ The shores of Hong Kong are geologically diverse and have been shape d by wind, rain and se a to produce a wide array of seascapes, from towerin g cliffs i n the southeast an d on many wave-battered islands , to wide expanses of mud i n the northwest. Fringed by tropical mangroves, such mudflats are home to the secretive denizens of water-logged bunow s and are patrolled by vast flocks of wading birds that arcive in Hong Kon g each spring and autumn t o exploit it s resident productivity. The Mai Po Marshes Nature Reserve is such a protected habitat and seascape. Most (80%) of Hong Kong's shores are, however, of rock and wave and have not generated the sam e interes t an d suppor t for their continued survival . Survival is , however , becomin g increasingl y importan t because even the outermost reaches of Hong Kong's tentorial waters are now under the pervasive threat o f pollution. N o piece of coast i n Hong Kong has escaped th e attention s o f inshore fishermen, who collect a great arcay of marine life for consumption. Urban settlements are spreading out from th e city centres and, along with other coastal developments such as the new port an d airport , refuse tips , power stations an d docks and jetties, there ar e the insidiou s effects o f the vas t quantities of urban sewage, agricultural effluents, industria l contaminants and construction wastes that this city generates and disperses into its sureounding sea, often at the shoreline. On 23 November 1994, the Legislative Council of Hong Kong debate d th e firs t an d secon d readin g o f th e Marin e Parks Bill. The third, final, reading of the bill took place on 31 Ma y 199 5 an d passe d int o la w th e Marin e Park s an d Reserves Ordinance . Thi s legislativ e framewor k wil l allo w for the creation of two marine parks at Yan Chau Tong / Li Chi Wo an d Hoi Ha Wan an d th e marine reserve at Cap e d'Aguilar. The scientific reasons for the establishment of such areas as either protected parks or reserves are not often full y understood. For most people, it is the visual beauty of a place that i s sufficient t o warran t call s fo r it s protection . Hon g Kong's marin e park s an d marin e reserv e ar e scenicall y beautiful, bu t the y ar e als o geologicall y an d biologicall y important. The ai m of this book i s to explain the scientifi c reasons for the proposal to designate Cape d'Aguilar as Hong Kong's first marine reserve. In a small place like Hong Kong, with 6 million people crammed onto 1,070 km2 of land and sunounded by but 1,80 0 km2 of tentorial waters, space is at a premium and the notion of a strict reserve that no one can visit is not a viable option. On the contrary, it is important that the public see the Cape d'Aguilar Marin e Reserv e fo r themselve s an d lear n o f it s importance a s a fragile survivo r of a once far richer marin e heritage. Thi s boo k thu s introduce s th e Cap e d'Aguila r Marine Reserve to Hong Kong. The proposal to protect this small area of sea and shore represents the culmination of years of wor k b y numerou s organizations , mos t notabl y th e Agriculture an d Fisherie s Departmen t o f th e Hon g Kon g Government and The Marine Biological Association of Hong Kong, an d man y dedicate d people . Cap e d'Aguila r mus t survive an d becom e wha t the y hav e lon g argue d fo r — a living remnant o f a once spectacula r natura l seascap e an d marine biological heritage. 1 June 199 5 Brian Morton The Swir e Institute of Marine Science , an d Department o f Ecology and Biodiversity , The Universit y o f Hong Kong, Hong Kon g Elizabeth Harper Department o f Earth Sciences , The Universit y o f Cambridge, Englan d ...