Condition of coral communities in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong as determined by mapping seascape metrics

Jeffery Tzu Hao Chung; Steven Hong Tai Tsang; Nicci Ng; Walter Dellisanti; Qin Xian; Jiajun Wu; James Kar Hei Fang; Jian-Wen Qiu; Kenneth Mei Yee Leung; Lai Leo Chan

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118510

Condition of coral communities in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong as determined by mapping seascape metrics

Jeffery Tzu Hao Chung, Steven Hong Tai Tsang, Nicci Ng, Walter Dellisanti, Qin Xian, Jiajun Wu, James Kar Hei Fang, Jian-Wen Qiu, Kenneth Mei Yee Leung^*, Lai Leo Chan^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Journal Publications and Reviews › RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal › peer-review

Abstract

Victoria Harbour, located at the centre of densely populated Hong Kong, has historically suffered from significant marine pollution. In response, the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme was fully implemented by the end of 2015, effectively treating over 2 million tonnes of sewage daily from two sides of the harbour and substantially improving water quality. This study investigated coral communities in seven sites along the natural coastline and five sites along the artificial breakwater in Victoria Harbour. Five coral habitats were identified along the natural coastlines, with areas ranging from 2.02 to 10.42 ha, and recorded a total of 35 coral species, including 4 black coral species, 16 stony coral species, and 15 octocoral species. Using seascape metrics, we also assessed habitat and ecological conditions across sites. This first comprehensive underwater survey of benthic ecosystems in Victoria Harbour provides a baseline for long-term monitoring of future coral recovery. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd.

Original language	English
Article number	118510
Number of pages	10
Journal	Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume	221
Online published	2 Aug 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118510
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025

Funding

This study is primarily supported by the Environmental and Conservation Fund (Project No.: ECF 2020-08) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), China. This study is partially supported by the Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC) of the HKSAR Government (Project No.: 9448002), which provides regular research funding to the State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Health.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 14 Life Below Water

Research Keywords

Coral habitat mapping
Habitat fragmentation
Harbour Area Treatment Scheme
Seascape metrics

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10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118510

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title = "Condition of coral communities in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong as determined by mapping seascape metrics",

abstract = "Victoria Harbour, located at the centre of densely populated Hong Kong, has historically suffered from significant marine pollution. In response, the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme was fully implemented by the end of 2015, effectively treating over 2 million tonnes of sewage daily from two sides of the harbour and substantially improving water quality. This study investigated coral communities in seven sites along the natural coastline and five sites along the artificial breakwater in Victoria Harbour. Five coral habitats were identified along the natural coastlines, with areas ranging from 2.02 to 10.42 ha, and recorded a total of 35 coral species, including 4 black coral species, 16 stony coral species, and 15 octocoral species. Using seascape metrics, we also assessed habitat and ecological conditions across sites. This first comprehensive underwater survey of benthic ecosystems in Victoria Harbour provides a baseline for long-term monitoring of future coral recovery. {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier Ltd.",

keywords = "Coral habitat mapping, Habitat fragmentation, Harbour Area Treatment Scheme, Seascape metrics",

author = "Chung, {Jeffery Tzu Hao} and Tsang, {Steven Hong Tai} and Nicci Ng and Walter Dellisanti and Qin Xian and Jiajun Wu and Fang, {James Kar Hei} and Jian-Wen Qiu and Leung, {Kenneth Mei Yee} and Chan, {Lai Leo}",

year = "2025",

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doi = "10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118510",

language = "English",

volume = "221",

journal = "Marine Pollution Bulletin",

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T1 - Condition of coral communities in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong as determined by mapping seascape metrics

AU - Chung, Jeffery Tzu Hao

AU - Tsang, Steven Hong Tai

AU - Ng, Nicci

AU - Dellisanti, Walter

AU - Xian, Qin

AU - Wu, Jiajun

AU - Fang, James Kar Hei

AU - Qiu, Jian-Wen

AU - Leung, Kenneth Mei Yee

AU - Chan, Lai Leo

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - Victoria Harbour, located at the centre of densely populated Hong Kong, has historically suffered from significant marine pollution. In response, the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme was fully implemented by the end of 2015, effectively treating over 2 million tonnes of sewage daily from two sides of the harbour and substantially improving water quality. This study investigated coral communities in seven sites along the natural coastline and five sites along the artificial breakwater in Victoria Harbour. Five coral habitats were identified along the natural coastlines, with areas ranging from 2.02 to 10.42 ha, and recorded a total of 35 coral species, including 4 black coral species, 16 stony coral species, and 15 octocoral species. Using seascape metrics, we also assessed habitat and ecological conditions across sites. This first comprehensive underwater survey of benthic ecosystems in Victoria Harbour provides a baseline for long-term monitoring of future coral recovery. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd.

AB - Victoria Harbour, located at the centre of densely populated Hong Kong, has historically suffered from significant marine pollution. In response, the Harbour Area Treatment Scheme was fully implemented by the end of 2015, effectively treating over 2 million tonnes of sewage daily from two sides of the harbour and substantially improving water quality. This study investigated coral communities in seven sites along the natural coastline and five sites along the artificial breakwater in Victoria Harbour. Five coral habitats were identified along the natural coastlines, with areas ranging from 2.02 to 10.42 ha, and recorded a total of 35 coral species, including 4 black coral species, 16 stony coral species, and 15 octocoral species. Using seascape metrics, we also assessed habitat and ecological conditions across sites. This first comprehensive underwater survey of benthic ecosystems in Victoria Harbour provides a baseline for long-term monitoring of future coral recovery. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd.

KW - Coral habitat mapping

KW - Habitat fragmentation

KW - Harbour Area Treatment Scheme

KW - Seascape metrics

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U2 - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118510

DO - 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2025.118510

M3 - RGC 21 - Publication in refereed journal

C2 - 40753764

SN - 0025-326X

VL - 221

JO - Marine Pollution Bulletin

JF - Marine Pollution Bulletin

M1 - 118510

ER -

Condition of coral communities in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong as determined by mapping seascape metrics

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Research Keywords

Access Output

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