Aquatic Fauna

Hong Kong is in the Oriental Region and despite cool winters has a fauna
dominated by tropical species. It has a very high diversity of fish,
crustacea and molluscs, of which at least 150 species are of commercial
importance. Transient species such as the yellow croaker and melon seed,
typically found off northern China and Japan, bolster the resident marine
fauna when the monsoonal flow brings in cooler waters.

Local waters range broadly from the predominantly brackish in the west
to the less turbid and more oceanic in the east. Seasonal rainfall affects
the outflow of the Pearl River, the largest river in southern China, causing
brackish waters to extend into areas which for most of the year
experience clear oceanic waters. Many marine fish breed in Hong Kong
waters. Typical of eastern waters is the gold-lined sea bream, one of
several sea bream whose fry are abundant along the shores of Mirs Bay
and are captured in the early spring months to provide a mainstay for
mariculture.

The natural history of many common shore animals, particularly the more
sedentary molluscs and crustacea of rocky shores and mangroves has
been studied, but broad gaps remain in the knowledge of local marine
fauna. Increase in demands for marine recreation, including boating, sport
fishing and scuba diving, coupled with concerns for the visible effects of
pollution, dredging and dumping in local waters have drawn much
attention to marine wildlife in recent years. The less-common commercial
fish and many corals that reach the northernmost extent of their range in
Hong Kong remain poorly documented, not to mention the myriad of less
familiar worms, urchins, starfish, sea pens and the more microscopic
planktonic forms.

The habitats of Hong Kong's coastal areas have experienced dramatic
changes in the last decade, in parallel with the rapid rate of development
in Hong Kong. Inevitably, detrimental changes in the fauna have
occurred, but counteracting measures are being taken with a view to
protecting sensitive aquatic communities. These measures include the
deployment of artificial reefs and the designation of marine parks and
marine reserves.

Shark sightings have been recorded in local waters and shark attacks near
Clear Water Bay have caused several deaths since 1991. To protect
swimmers, 21 shark exclusion nets have been erected at popular bathing
beaches. These are deployed in such a way as to minimise the possibility
of trapping marine lives and serve only to keep bathers and sharks apart.

During the year, the marine mammals of Hong Kong have attracted
special attention. This was mainly because the resident species,
Indo-Pacific Hump-backed dolphin, commonly known as Chinese White
Dolphin, was chosen as the mascot for Hong Kong's transition. This
species is commonly found in waters north of Lantau Island although in
the summer time it may venture into waters south and east of Lantau
Island. A study commissioned in April 1996 is under way to help develop
an effective, long-term conservation strategy for this species in Hong
Kong. The Finless Porpoise is another resident marine mammal species.
In contrast to the Indo-Pacific Hump-backed dolphin, this species is
frequently seen in southern and eastern waters of Hong Kong, and is
seldom sighted in north Lantau waters where the Chinese White Dolphin
is found.

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