National Geographic - USA (2021-11)

Without greater protective measures, Hong Kong’s vibrant marine

ecosystem could collapse, as two National Geographic Explorers warn.

Diving below the waves can
be like entering another world,
but for Hong Kong-based Nation-
al Geographic Explorer Jonathan
Cybulski, it is also like travelling
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ecologist specializing in coral,
Cybulski uncovers the stories
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what can be done to reverse their
decline.

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to set a historical baseline,” says
Cybulski. “What were they like
in the past? How do we use that
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changed? And what has caused
that change, which—surprise!—
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conserve or restore it for the fu-
ture?”

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at The University of Hong Kong
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Cybulski has gained a unique
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volves scuba diving to collect his-
torical data, using a coring pipe

this regard include Tolo Harbour

and the Ninepin Group of islands,

and without greater conservation

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waters forever.

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Association Hong Kong, is

another National Geographic

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paigns to research-focused initia-

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Reef Fish Survey”.

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as a heavily urbanized concrete

jungle,” says Shea, “but our loca-

tion in the sub-tropics gives us in-

credible underwater biodiversity.”

However, as Shea explains, pop-

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tion, and a greater focus on

sustainability is urgently needed

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ECOSYSTEM

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A Sustainable Future

PAID CONTENT FOR

to dig deep into the

seabed to extract

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containing fossils

that provide a win-

dow into the past—

and potentially a

lifeline for the future.

As Cybulski ex-

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coral has declined

in the past few de-

cades due to fac-

tors such as pol-

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activities. Areas that

have been partic-

ularly affected in

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