Revealing Benthic Habitats and Sessile Epibenthic Biodiversity in Victoria Harbour: A preliminary study

Description

The status of coral communities and other sessile epibenthic biodiversity within Victoria Harbour has not previously been systematically investigated. With such baseline information, it will be possible to monitor the further recovery of the benthic habitat and associated biodiversity resulting from the water quality improvement after implementation of the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme (HATS) Phase 2a. This study aims to systematically survey and document the sessile epibenthic biodiversity, in particular hard and soft corals, in Victoria Harbour. We will survey selected sites within the harbour, based on selection criteria and results of our trial survey. A three-tier survey design will be implemented to record the sessile benthic biodiversity in each site. Through documentation of the existing coral diversity within Victoria Harbour, and sharing the information with the general public via multimedia, we can promote local marine biodiversity and the benefit of the HATS; and support the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (BSAP). We will also provide the baseline data and a standard survey protocol for future quantitative and regular surveys on sessile marine epibenthic biodiversity within Victoria Harbour.