[Explanation] The "underwater world" located in the southern part of Hong Kong is like a fairy tale and fairyland. There are abundant tropical fish and stony corals of various qualities. Corals grow here, fish swim in them, and divers walk through them.
However, as global warming continues in recent years, it has had an impact on the living environment of marine life.
In this regard, in order to protect the diversity of local biodiversity in Hong Kong, Sino Group, Hong Kong Innovation Fund, Hong Kong Ocean Park and Hong Kong local science and technology innovation company archiREEF have joined hands to promote Hong Kong's first cross-sector cooperation coral conservation plan "Activate Coral Action" , using archiREEF's first 3D printed terracotta coral reef tray to preserve Hong Kong's coral ecology.
[Concurrent] Wang Zichong, Superintendent of Animal Department of Hong Kong Ocean Park
Ocean Park is honored to participate in the "Activation of Corals". Our Ocean Park role has two parts, one is about animal conservation, and the other is public education. We may share some aspects of animal conservation. Our park has taken care of different marine life for many years Experience, including some coral care and breeding, so this time we combined our own experience and archiREEF’s first clay coral reef plate, (using) 3D printing technology to make coral reef plates, hoping to bring some coral fragments and vulnerable corals in the southern area to It is bred in the park, and after it is taken care of, it will be released back to the waters of the southern district of Hong Kong.
[Explanation] According to reports, there are currently more than 84 types of hard corals and 29 types of soft corals in Hong Kong.
The challenges they face include not only unlivable natural conditions, but also trampling and pollution caused by eco-tourism development, as well as overfishing.
In this regard, the local scientific and technological innovation company archiREEF uses its own advantages to provide technical support for rebuilding the appearance of the original coral reefs and restoring local coral species.
[Concurrent] Yu Bifen, co-founder of archiREEF
We have developed a world's first 3D printed coral reef plate. In this project, our first step is to decide where to plant corals based on scientific support. In addition, we will provide scientific research projects, which is this 3D printed coral reef plate. Put it in the sea, this is our part.
[Explanation] After considering various scientific data such as water flow, sediment velocity, and growth form, archiREEF designed this 3D printed terracotta coral reef plate to provide a stable base for corals to grow. natural structure.
This project also won a gold medal at the 2022 Geneva International Exhibition of Inventions.
[Explanation] At present, the "Activation of Corals" has been successfully launched. Guo Kaiyi, Assistant General Manager of Sustainable Development of Sino Group, revealed that the goal of this action is to use coral reefs to successfully plant more than 120 rescued coral fragments in the next three years and rebuild 20 square meters of artificial coral reef to provide a habitable home for more native marine life.
[Concurrent] Guo Kaiyi, Assistant General Manager of Sustainable Development of Sino Group
In addition to the sponsorship role of Sino Group, we also closely cooperate with Ocean Park and archiREEF, hoping to combine technology and sustainable development elements to educate the public on the importance of marine conservation, especially to promote urban biodiversity. We We hope that in the next three years we can work together to restore the coral reefs in the southern waters of Hong Kong.
Reporter Liang Yuan reports from Hong Kong
Editor in charge: [Ji Xiang]