'Hard-hit HK Coral Reefs May Give Vital Clues'

A group of international scientists is hoping that studying coral reefs in Hong Kong waters – which they say has undergone more stress than any other in the world – can offer insights into how to protect such marine life in other part of the world.

The scientists travelling on the French schooner, Tara, will make an one-week stopover in the SAR to collect coral and water samples for their study.

The vessel, which has been on a long research expedition across the Pacific Ocean since 2016, will also offer educational tours of the ship.

Roman Trouble, the executive director of the non-profit Tara Expeditions Foundation, said that coral reefs around the world are affected by various factors, like climate change, over fishing, pollution, construction of coastal development and sedimentation from islands.

The corals around in Hong Kong have faced stresses like no other in the world for years, he said. So to see how they have adopted to such situations can help scientists understand ways and methods to save them, he said.

He told RTHK's Frances Sit that a study of the local reefs may provide clues as to how and why reef bleaching is happening in the South Pacific islands.