Scientists help revive the oyster population in Hong Kong
(11 Nov 2019) LEAD IN: Plans are underway to plant millions of oysters in Hong Kong's harbours, in an effort to boost the oyster population. The project hopes the bivalves with help restore the marine environment by filtering the water when they feed. STORY-LINE: In a laboratory at the University of Hong Kong, oysters are being monitored. They're part of the "Oysters save our seas" project, inspired by New York's "Billion Oyster Project." It's hoped marine bivalves including mussels, oysters and crabs, will clean up the island's waters because they are filter feeders. They eat by pumping huge quantities of water through their bodies when they feed, removing organisms such as plankton and algae, making the environment cleaner and clearer. Just one oyster can filter up to litres of water per day. The project also aims to increase the local oyster population, which has been declining because of pollution from industrial chemicals. Prof. Kenneth Leung is the Chairman of the Hong Kong Marine Ecological Association, and the leader of the "Oysters save our seas" project. "Historically, we have many oysters in Hong Kong, especially in Lau Fau Shan Tuen Mun area, as well as in Tolo Habour area. And then if you look at the historical records, we have far more oysters than now. So it means that we can try to make use of the bivalves to restore the ecosystem," he says. A number of studies and laboratory experiments are being conducted to decide how many oysters should be deployed, and where, so as not to adversely affect biodiversity. The project also collaborates with local oyster farmers in Lau Fau Shan, by sourcing native oysters from them. Apart from the economic benefits, the project could help the industry by improving the farmers' cultivation technique. According to Leung, oyster farmers often need to collect wild oysters for breeding. However, if more oysters are deployed in the ocean, the farmers can utilize them as well to improve the breeding process. Kwong, an oyster farmer who has been cultivating oysters in Lau Fau Shan area for more than 50 years, believes the project could help his industry. "I would say that the oyster farming industry (in Hong Kong) is flourishing," he says. "Although there is less manpower (compared with the past), it's becoming more scientific. We no longer need to work on the mudflat, so it becomes easier to operate. It was really exhausting working on the mudflat." He says local farmers and scientists are working together on the new project. "From an environmental aspect, oysters help a lot in filtering the water. (The scientists) are much more professional than us, they could help us from an academic aspect, while we are more practical, so we could cooperate with each other." Chan Shu-fung is an oyster farmer who sells his catch to the scientists working on the project. "Through our cooperation with the University of Hong Kong, I know that oysters can actually serve a function other than being consumed, he says. It is heartening to me as it provides a positive image that oysters can actually benefit or improve our industry. as well as the environment. This is a really good thing." "Hoe see fat choy," a dish of dried oysters shrouded in strands of fine black seaweed (also called black moss) is commonly eaten throughout the Chinese New Year holiday. "Hoe see," the Cantonese word for oysters, sounds similar to "good business" and "fat choy" (the same as the New Year's greeting "gung hay fat choy") symbolizes prosperity. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
