Largest marine park in Hong Kong established to protect marine ecology near airport expansion

The North Lantau Marine Park (NLMP), the largest marine park in Hong Kong, has been established near Hong Kong International Airport (HKG). Covering around 2,400 hectares of water, the park is a key mitigation measure outlined in the Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Permit for the airport’s expansion into a Three-Runway System (3RS).

Peter Lee, General Manager, Sustainability of AAHK, said, “Along with HKG’s expansion into a Three-runway System, we are committed to achieving a balance between economic development and environmental conservation. An array of initiatives continue to be implemented under AAHK’s Marine Ecology and Fisheries Enhancement Strategy, including voluntary enhancement measures such as the deployment of artificial reefs and shellfish reefs, and periodic re-stocking of nearby waters with fish fingerlings. We are hopeful that the designation of the NLMP will have a long term and positive impact on the local marine environment and fisheries.”

What is the marine park and what is its connection with HKG?

The NLMP forms a major part of a large matrix of interconnected marine protected areas including the Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park, and the Brothers Marine Park in the North Lantau waters. The NLMP also connects with HKIA’s restricted marine approach areas. The three marine parks together cover around 4,570 hectares of North Lantau waters, providing positive and synergistic conservation effects for the Chinese White Dolphins (CWDs) and fisheries resources.

The NLMP is also contiguous with the Pearl River Estuary Chinese White Dolphin National Nature Reserve. Linking the marine protected areas in western Hong Kong with the large Mainland reserve will further enhance the conservation potential among these important CWD habitats, helping to promote the use of waters around HKIA and North Lantau by CWDs and benefiting other important marine life and fisheries resources.

To prepare for the establishment of the NLMP, Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) developed a Marine Park Proposal back in 2016 and subsequently conducted a detailed Marine Park Study, including consultations with relevant stakeholders and advisory committees, before the marine park boundary and management plan was finalised. AAHK also provided key support to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department during the statutory designation process of the NLMP under the Marine Parks Ordinance.