​The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) announced today (November 1) that the North Lantau Marine Park (NLMP) was established on the same day.
Covering about 2 400 hectares of water, the NLMP is the eighth and largest marine park in Hong Kong. It is also one of the measures for mitigating the impacts on Chinese White Dolphins (CWD) and fisheries habitats brought about by the construction and operation of the Three-Runway System Project. The establishment of the NLMP increases the area of Hong Kong's protected marine habitat to over 8 500 hectares, which is conducive to the conservation of the CWD and the marine environment and ecosystem in North Lantau waters.
The spokesman for the AFCD said, "The NLMP links with the nearby Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park and The Brothers Marine Park in North Lantau waters to form a matrix of connected marine protected areas totalling about 4 570 hectares. The NLMP is also contiguous with the Pearl River Estuary Chinese White Dolphin National Nature Reserve established in Guangdong Province, allowing for better protection of core CWD habitats. The AFCD is in liaison with the relevant Mainland authorities regarding the establishment of the Guangdong-Hong Kong Chinese White Dolphin marine protected areas network platform to strengthen co-operation on management and enforcement, ecological monitoring and enhancement, as well as education and publicity between the two places."
The spokesman added that the NLMP will adopt management measures similar to those of existing marine parks, including routine patrols and law enforcement, restricting vessel speed to 10 knots, monitoring and enhancement of marine resources, promoting conservation education, facilitating ecological and recreational activities, and accepting NLMP fishing permit applications for local fishing vessels registered under the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171). The AFCD has co-ordinated with the Marine Department to remind the marine sector of the above regulations twice in the second half of this year.
In addition, to raise public awareness about marine parks and marine conservation, the AFCD will continue to issue promotional materials, including social media posts, educational pamphlets and videos. The AFCD will also conduct long-term ecological and water quality monitoring in the marine parks and encourage scientific research in marine parks. Information about the NLMP can be found on the AFCD website.
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