I had the pleasure to spend a day with the Hong Kong Dolphin Conservation Society (HKDCS) and join their dolphin surveying around Hong Kong waters yesterday. This occasion was mainly for my extended essay research and to learn about the conservation work of the society.
We embarked on our journey at Tung Chung New Development Pier and surveyed Chinese white dolphins around Lantau Island (which is an essential part of the Hong Kong Cetacean Project). We saw seven dolphins in total, which is a really low number compared to the years when there weren’t as much coastal development in the region. I also had an interview with Mr. Taison Chang, the chairman of HKDCS and discussed some environmental conservation/protection/policy issues in Hong Kong.
It was my first time seeing a Chinese white dolphin this close and with my own eyes so I was super duper hyped when I first spotted its fin (i was trying so hard not to scream out loud); however, despite all the lovely dolphin-sighting moments, it was really upsetting and worrisome to see all the completed/on-going/to-be-commenced coastal development projects in northern Lantau and the high-speed ferries crossing through the southern Lantau waters. There were no dolphin sightings around the construction areas, not even near the marine parks, which clearly shows an immediate need for reinforcement of environmental policies regarding on both the environmental protection aspect for coastal development construction as well as a clear set of rules in marine parks and re-evaluation of its efficacy (a strict law on restricted activities in the protected areas, including regular monitoring of fishing activities should also be put forward).
Really hope that our capitalism-driven government can put more focus and effort into environmental conservation/protection/policies in Hong Kong instead of solely prioritising new development projects without taking the results of the environmental impact assessment reports and other long-term consequences into serious consideration.
Nevertheless, it was a superb experience tysm <3
- tiff x
