Wan 1

At
Harold (Harry) Wan

Mr. Ferrin

Humanities I in action

28 January 2022

The Decline in Marine Population and Biodiversity in South China

The ocean covers more than 70 percent of the world and is home to more than 200,000

marine species and plants, creating a diverse, beautiful, and rich landscape underwater. But the

ocean does more than serve as a beautiful ecosystem. It is estimated that over 50 percent of our

world s oxygen comes from the sea, making it a vital factor in keeping humanity alive. (National

Ocean Service). Also, more than 20 percent of our food supply comes from the ocean, providing

us with an abundance of food. But in recent years, the impacts of human activities in the sea have

caused the marine population and biodiversity to decline.

Water pollution and poor drainage in Hong Kong are some of the many factors a ecting

the lives of sh and marine biodiversity in the South China Sea. After being ranked 7th in the

world for most single-use plastic waste per person, Hong Kong has more than 17 million tons of

plastic waste per year that pollutes the ocean through rivers and small inlets. (Minderoo
boastwhich
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usualindicatessporty
Foundation). In particular, the Shing Mun nullah boasts the most plastic owing through the
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river, with over 48,000 pieces daily. This is mainly caused by the city s poor stormwater drainage

system that fails to prevent trash and plastic from entering bodies of water. Once the plastic

enters the rivers, it often follows the current and ends up in the ocean (Kao). Often toxic, these

plastics have a detrimental e ect on the marine life and biodiversity of the South China Sea. In

the water, plastics remain for centuries. Their non-biodegradable nature makes decomposition

nearly impossible, and, at the most, they ll only break down into small micro bers. Fish will
microplastros clothing

microfines
synthetic

from
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consume these particles mistaking them as food, and will continue to ingest these plastic

particles as it is often the only available food source. This vicious cycle of plastic consumption

will continue until the shes die from eating too many plastic bers when their organs and

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immune system can no longer handle the pollutants. (Visontay). In the South China Sea, it isn t
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only sh that die of plastic, but endangered species native to the pearl river estuary like turtles

and pink dolphins have as well. In a recent study conducted by the City University of Hong

Kong, researchers discovered a local endangered turtle with its body lled with plastic. (Knott).
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This example represents the immense amounts of plastic waste in the ocean and how it a ects

marine biodiversity in the region. Water pollution remains a harmful issue in today s society.

Only when changes in plastic use and improvements in drainage methods occur can society have

a sustainable footprint on the environment.

Besides water contamination and poor drainage systems, land reclamation has also

become a root cause of the decline in sh populations and biodiversity in the South China region.

Hong Kong is small, and with the majority of people living in densely populated districts, land

reclamation has become a norm. Over 2000 hectares of land have been reclaimed for commercial

and residential use since 1990, evidently a ecting local biodiversity and the population of pink

dolphins (Ng). In the early 1990s, there were over 200 pink dolphins in Hong Kong s waters, but

as infrastructure projects such as the Chep Lap Kok Airport and Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau

bridge commenced, the number of pink dolphins signi cantly dropped. This is due to the

deterioration of the natural habitats of the pink dolphins. (Knott). Similarly, the rise of
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reclamation in the South China Sea has caused harmful e ects. Being located in tropical and

subtropical areas of Asia, the South China Sea contains signi cant marine biodiversity, boasting
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of
more than 3,000 species of sh. (Mcnama a). But in recent years, with increasing reclaimed

military bases in the area, the number of sh species and population has plummeted. The decline

is caused by the reclamation process of the arti cial islands when barges dredge the sea oor,

destroying ecosystems and coral reefs while pumping sand onto small atolls in the ocean. As a

result, marine species have become displaced, and many have a lower reproduction rate due to

obstructions of land reclamations. (Pratnashree). Since then, it is reported that more than 160

square kilometers of coral reefs have since been destroyed and that the marine population has

dropped 16 percent. (The Diplomat). Though there have been some e orts to prohibit land

reclamation, it remains a destructive method as it has harmed the local marine biodiversity and

the sh population.

In addition, over shing has caused similar e ects to the sh populations and marine

biodiversity in Hong Kong and the world. Over shing is an intensifying issue in our world s

seafood supply chain. This is when shing eets catch large quantities of seafood, making it

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impossible for the marine species to replenish its community and population. (EDF). Since the

1950s, more than 50 percent of our world s seafood supply has declined, harming the

sustainability of our oceans. (Sam o ic). Hong Kong is a clear example of this. As the second
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biggest seafood consumer in Asia, it is estimated that every Hong Konger eats 72 kilograms of

seafood annually, factoring into the local and global over shing crisis. (Food Made Good).
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Though the Hong Kong Government has taken action to ban harmful shing practices, including

dredging and trawling, the catch si e of local shing eets remains unlimited; meaning shers

can have varying catch si es. (HKWWF). This has only made things worse by shifting the
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seafood supply elsewhere and not regulating over shing. According to Doug Woodring, 90
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percent of our seafood supply comes from more than 170 territories and countries worldwide,

contributing to the growing depletion and the over shing issue. (Knott). For instance, Totoaba, a
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native sh to the Paci c, has become endangered from over shing, a ecting the marine

biodiversity of the paci c ocean. It is reported that the majority of its demand is from Asia,

mainly from Hong Kong, where Totoaba bladder is common because of its high collagen content.
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(Leung). As one of the biggest seafood consumers, Hong Kong plays a key role in the global

issue of over shing. In order to revive local sh stocks and marine biodiversity, Hong Kong

society should change its consumer habits to overcome this arising problem.

Ultimately, the sh population and marine biodiversity in the ocean have been steadily declining

in the past years because of the impacts of plastic pollution, land reclamation, and over shing. These

issues will only worsen if society doesn t do anything to consumer habits and land management. Thus, it

is essential that the public can gain a better understanding of this issue because understanding can lead to

prevention, which in the long run will help bring the marine population and biodiversity to their former

glory.

Tae
Works Cited

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