SSCS HK's Anti-Poaching Patrol in Hong Kong

On the morning of Tuesday 26th November, 2013 Sea Shepherd Hong Kong was taking Plastic Free Seas with some students to a remote beach in the Soko Islands to examine plastic pollution. During this trip at approximately 11:00am Gary Stokes noticed two trawlers travelling west from the area just south of Lok Kwu Chau. The two trawlers were maintaining a constant course and distance from each other which is normal practice when conducting 'pair trawling' operations. This is when two boats tow a large trawl net between them. These nets can stretch back over 1/2 kilometer with the net opening marked by a surface float with flag some distance behind.

Pair-trawlers operating/poaching within HK waters

After dropping off most of the party on a beach in the Soko's, Gary with three young students took the rigid inflatable "Amberjack" to investigate and document. Upon reaching the two vessels just east of the Soko Island group, we documented their operations and markings and photographed them with the GPS.

Captain of one of the trawlers checking Sea Shepherd out through his binoculars

Sea Shepherd document with GPS trawlers operating well within HK waters

Trawlers passing clearly between the Soko Island group inside HK territorial waters

We then broke off from the trawlers and raced around to the northern bay of the Soko's where we had sighted a Marine Police boat earlier. Upon reaching the small police RIB we informed the officers of the illegal poaching activity and showed them the photographs showing the proximately of the trawlers to the island. The Marine Police called it in and took off with Sea Shepherd around the Western side of the Soko's to cut them off.

Marine Police calling in the complaint from Sea Shepherd of illegal poaching activities

Sea Shepherd lead the Marine Police to cut off the trawlers as they make a dash for the border

 The trawler captains were certainly aware that they had been documented and were likely running for the border. Upon rounding the western most point we saw the trawlers, the Police signaled to us that they would engage. We decided that we would also pursue and document the Police in action to ensure that everyone would do their utmost to uphold the law.
(Remember: the camera is the most powerful weapon in the world, and can also be a great motivator!!)

Marine Police engaging the two trawlers poaching in HK waters

Marine Police issue warnings to the trawlers

The Captain of one of the boats trying to say he's just passing through...!

After contacting both trawler captains we exchanged our details with the police and the officers informed us that the large patrol launch approaching from the north would intervene and make the arrest. Shortly after this a high speed police interceptor craft passed us at high speed to pursue them across into Chinese waters.

High speed Marine Police Interceptor

Map of the engagement clearly showing everything well within HK waters

Once committed to engage we were very impressed with the rapid response from the Marine Police. We broke off our pursuit for risk of illegally entering Chinese territorial waters.

We have since learnt that these boats were originally Hong Kong boats, sold to China after the trawling ban came into effect. The police have handed the prosecution over to the AFCD (Agricultural & Fisheries Conservation Department). We will follow up on the developments as they arise and ensure that this case gets as much exposure as possible to act as a deterrent to any future would be poachers. We will press for the maximum penalty.

Sea Shepherd HK will continue our work patrolling Hong Kong waters and will liaise with the Marine Police should we discover any future incursions into HK waters by foreign fishing vessels or local vessels trawling.

Protect, Conserve, Defend...... No Matter The Size!

From defending the great whales, sharks, turtles, dolphins and tuna down to the smallest organisms found in our oceans, coral communities and plankton, Sea Shepherd has no prejudice.

As the main Sea Shepherd fleet make final preparations on Operation Relentless in Melbourne Australia to head to the Southern Oceans to confront the illegal whale poachers from Japan, here in Hong Kong Sea Shepherd are engaged in stopping development plans that threaten to destroy marine ecosystems within Hong Kong's country parks.

Currently a proposal sits in front of the Town Planning Board, a proposal to allow development within the country park enclaves of Hong Kong. Whilst the proposal is a substantial document there are some very key components that have been either overlooked or deliberately left out.

In Hoi Ha Wan the proposal does not take into consideration the Marine Park that is adjacent to the proposed area of development, an area designated as an SSSI (Site of Specific Scientific Interest) and home to 64 of the 84 species of coral found in Hong Kong, and of course the diverse marine life that are found within such coral communities.

Prepared By Sea Shepherd Hong Kong. 2013

In Pak Lap Wan, the bay adjacent to the proposed development, the population of Amphioxus will be threatened from any sedimentation or pollution that may enter the water. The Amphioxus are one of three living fossils found within Hong Kong and is regarded as a link from the evolution of marine invertebrates to vertebrates, they date back over 500 million years. More can be read about them here: http://dspace.cityu.edu.hk/handle/2031/4884

These tiny eel like organisms live mostly buried in the sand. Results indicate that seawater at amphioxus habitats has two essential characters: firstly, oceanic; secondly, low content of suspended solids. Such findings were consistent with results obtained from laboratory observations: B. belcheri could not survive at low salinity (LC50 at 17.5‰); and high suspended solids in the water could induce physical damages on the oral cirri of B. belcheri. Thus, it can be concluded that clear oceanic water combined with sand sediment with low organic content are the most important habitat requirements for amphioxus.

The Oversight

What the Town Planning Board have completely failed to take into consideration is the underlying geology. Many of these enclaves are found in valleys with rivers entering the ocean. The geology found in these areas is mostly built up from deposits washed down from the hills over thousands of years. On many the highly porous Alluvium deposit is found.

Placing a septic tank soakaway system in ground comprising of (Qa) alluvium or other (Qb) beach deposits would be fatal for the nearby marine life, the ground would be as absorbent as a sieve allowing raw untreated sewage and gray waste-water to enter the environment.

What this would mean is that nitrogen and phosphorous would enter the bays at Hoi Ha Wan and Pak Lap Wan. Both nitrogen and phosphorus are destructive to coral communities and the organic matter will be fatal for the amphioxus.

It is for this reason why Sea Shepherd Hong Kong is getting involved with stopping the development plans for these enclaves, until a solution for responsible development is found that will not destroy marine life or the marine environment.

We have drawn a line in the sand..... anything crossing that line that has a negative effect on the marine environment is of concern to us.

We currently have two petitions running at the moment, please sign each. This will send an individual letter into the Town Planning Board and the Country & Marine Parks Board to let them know that development is not an option.

http://chn.ge/1cD47Xh

http://chn.ge/1fdrokG