Designated Marine Parks and Marine Reserve
North Lantau Marine Park
North Lantau Marine Park, located in the northern Lantau waters, is the eighth Marine Park in Hong Kong. Designated in November 2024, the total sea area of this marine park is about 2,400 ha in size. North Lantau Marine Park is linked with nearby marine parks for the better conservation of Chinese White Dolphins (Sousa chinensis), their habitat, the marine ecology and fisheries resources in the area.
Map of North Lantau Marine Park
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(press to download (The map is for general reference only. |
Marine Protected Areas Matrix in North Lantau Waters
North Lantau Marine Park is linked with the nearby Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park, and The Brothers Marine Park, to form a matrix of connected marine protected areas of about 4,570 ha in total size for better protection of the important habitat of Chinese White Dolphin. The new marine park is adjacent to Guangdong Pearl River Estuary Chinese White Dolphin National Nature Reserve, which is located between Neilingding Island and Niutou Island. Together the Marine Protected Areas in Hong Kong and the Mainland form a holistic conservation zone to provide important connections among these core Chinese White Dolphin habitats.
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Chinese White Dolphin (Sousa chinensis) |
North Lantau Marine Park |
Management Strategy
Under the marine parks fisheries management strategy, through the marine park fishing permit system, registered local fishing vessels may apply to continue fishing activities in the North Lantau Marine Park. However, fishing activities has been banned at its nearby Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park (~1,200 ha) and the Core Area of The Brothers Marine Park (~80 ha).
Ecology of North Lantau Marine Park
The waters of North Lantau Marine Park, like the nearby Marine Parks, is greatly influenced by the Pearl River freshwater run-off which contains high organic and sediment loading, and is an essential nursery ground for many fish and shellfish species. The western waters of Hong Kong are also important habitat for the Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins, locally known as Chinese White Dolphin (Sousa chinensis). These waters are spawning grounds for many commercially valuable fish species such as Bartail flathead (Platycephalus indicus), Mottled spinefoot (Siganus fuscescens) and Belanger's croaker (Johnius belangerii) as well as important feeding grounds for Chinese White Dolphins.