Monitoring

Hoi Ha Wan Marine Parks (since 1996)

Mangroves

Of 8 species of true mangroves recorded in Hong Kong, 6 species can be found in Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park. The best mangrove community is located at the main estuarine of Hoi Ha Wan of about 0.53 hectares of area. Five true mangrove species including Kandelia obovata, Aegiceras corniculatum, Excoecaria agallocha, Avicennia marina and Bruguiera gymnorrhiza are recorded in this area. While another species of true mangrove, Lumnitzera racemosa was also recorded in other coastal site within Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park. Mangrove areas commonly act as nursery grounds for juvenile fishes and other intertidal and subtidal invertebrates.

Coral communities

Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park has lush coral communities and it is one of the best coral sites in Hong Kong. 64 out of 84 hard coral species recorded in Hong Kong can be found in this marine park. Some of the common hard coral species are Goniopora columna, Leptastrea purpurea, Pavona decussata and Platygyra carnosa. Some of the best coral sites in Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park even recorded with over 50 species of hard corals.

Other marine life

There is a rich diversity of marine life in Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park. Some research studies showed that this Marine Park has more than 120 species of coral associated fishes. More marine fish species is expected to be recorded in this marine parks in future surveys. Moreover, diverse marine invertebrates such as Mastigias papua (jellyfish), Haliclona (Gellius) cymaeformis (sponges), Antipathes curvata (black coral), Mauritia arabica (cowries), Protula sp. (tubeworm), Atergatis reticulatus (crab), Salmacis sphaeroides (sea urchin), Colochirus quadrangularis (sea cucumber), etc are recorded in Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park.