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Since 2014, 114˚E Hong Kong Reef Fish Survey (114˚E Survey) has embarked on a continuous survey of Hong Kong's reef fish, with the aims of creating a database that is scientifically accurate and up-to-date, therefore usable by academics, in informing decision-making and educating the general public. Previous to the official commencement, two years of trial surveys were conducted from 2014 to 2016 to test out methodologies. The surveys are conducted through underwater visual census by volunteer scuba divers as citizen scientists, collecting data on the reef fish species and diversity in Hong Kong waters.

After decades of overexploitation, Hong Kong's reef and marine environment has become increasingly strained. With historically high fishing pressures, habitat destruction and degradation, uninformed fish release activities and a general lack of understanding of the state of our marine ecosystem, our waters are facing growing challenges to survival. Most importantly, records and status updates on local reef fish species are scarce, so we may not even know what we are losing.

The 114˚E Survey aims to reinvigorate the interest for Hong Kong's marine life among Hong Kong people, and to fill gaps in the existing knowledge of local reef fishes. Information collected include species diversity, qualitative abundance, and geographical distribution. Once collected, the data could ultimately be used to gain a better understanding for the long-term changes in local reef fish presence, changes in species dominance, prevalence of alien and invasive species, important sites for reef fish diversity, and the local reef ecology in general. The long-term and reliable data can also be used to inform future conservation actions, environmental impact assessments (EIAs), species conservation assessments and other academic and scientific research.

Making use of citizen scientists, the project recruits volunteer divers from all walks of life and a shared passion for conserving Hong Kong's marine life. Volunteers do not necessarily have any background in marine science or reef fish-related knowledge, however come equipped with other important skill sets, such as underwater photography. Much of the success of the 114˚E Survey is owed to these volunteers, contributing not only their time and photographs but also dedication in learning about Hong Kong's marine reef fishes, and becoming ambassadors for their conservation while encouraging others to learn more about local species.

To date, the 114˚E Survey has visited more than 80 dive sites primarily across Hong Kong's eastern waters, and recorded more than 350 reef fish species, including several that are new to Hong Kong's official records. The surveys have also led to the establishment of the 114˚E Hong Kong Reef Fish Web-Portal, introducing the species found in underwater surveys in an online platform accessible to the general public, and showcasing the photographs of fishes taken underwater by the survey's volunteers.

The 114˚E Survey: a survey for Hong Kong's reef fishes by Hong Kong's divers.Since 2014, more than 200 volunteer divers have taken part in the 114˚E Survey to help document Hong Kong's reef fish species.Eventually, the 114˚E Survey also launched night dive surveys to allow for the discovery and photographs of species in their nighttime appearance.Citizen scientist divers gather between dives to share findings and complete data entry for species encountered.Volunteer diver getting ready for a survey dive.Volunteers do not necessarily have any background in marine science or reef fish knowledge, but are skilled scuba divers.Volunteers conduct dives in groups of 2 – 4 for approximately 60 minutes, before returning to boat.Bringing underwater cameras on survey dives, volunteers will photograph reef fishes encountered for further identification post-dive.Diver getting ready for the next survey dive.Success of the project is owed to volunteer divers contributing not only their time and photographs, but dedication in getting to know Hong Kong's reef fish species.
Principal Investigator Mr. Stan SHEA
Affiliation BLOOM ASSOCIATION HONG KONG
Period 2020–present
Website https://www.114ehkreeffish.org/?lang=en
Funding Source The Swire Group Charitable Trust's TrustTomorrow initiative

Information Source: Mr. Stan SHEA

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