HK green group urges action on coral bleaching

Hong Kong WWF on Thursday urged the government to designate 30 percent of the SAR's waters as marine protected areas by 2030. The call comes after the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department received reports of coral bleaching in Hong Kong waters last month. The bleaching strips coral of its main source of energy, and the coral's demise weakens the overall ecosystem. Kelvin So, WWF Hong Kong's Oceans Conservation Manager, said the main cause of bleaching is a rise in water temperature. It can also be caused by heavy rainfall, which carries sediments from land that can degrade water quality. So urged the government to collaborate with universities to study coral bleaching in Hong Kong's waters and to take step to better protect them. "The government needs to identify and designate ecologically sensitive area for corals such as Sharp Island and Shelter Island in Sai Kung, and establish legally binding regulations to protect these critical areas from human activities," he said.