Oyster reefs and other shellfish habitats provide various ecosystem services that benefit human communities, including water filtration, habitat provision for fish, and coastal protection. However, over the past century, more than 85 percent of all shellfish ecosystems have been lost, making them the most endangered marine habitat on the planet. Hong Kong is no exception. Historical research and dive expeditions completed by TNC and The University of Hong Kong revealed that Hong Kong historically had extensive shellfish habitats that have been decimated by dredging for lime and development. Unfortunately, this ecological tragedy silently unfolded beneath the surface, and many people remain unaware of what has been lost.
In partnership with The Explorer's Club Hong Kong, TNC produced a documentary that delves into the captivating story of this forgotten ecosystem. It aims to raise awareness about the significance of oyster reefs and their impact on the health of Hong Kong waters, and foster greater support for their protection and restoration. This oyster odyssey chronicles previous diving expeditions to investigate remnant reefs across Lantau, retracing 1000+ years of history around oysters and their cultural significance for Hong Kong, and follows the story of scientists that are fighting to restore them.
Film Screening and Talk
Date: 7 October 2024 (Monday)
Time: 13:00 - 14:30
Venue: Tsang Shiu Tim Art Hall, HKUST (near Starbucks)
Speaker Biography:
Ms. Marine THOMAS: Marine is the Associate Director of Conservation for the Nature Conservancy (TNC) Hong Kong. Marine is responsible for overseeing TNC’s marine conservation projects on the ground, with a current focus on restoring natural habitats and developing sustainable oyster aquaculture. She joined The Nature Conservancy in 2014 as a volunteer, bringing 7 years of project management experience from various industries in the corporate world. She graduated with a Master’s degree in Environmental Management from The University of Hong Kong. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chinese language and civilization from the National Institute of Oriental Language and Civilization in Paris and a Master’s of science in International Management for China from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. Marine was born in Hong Kong with French-British background. She is an avid scuba diver and certified Padi Divemaster and AAUS scientific diver.
Bayden Dwight RUSSELL: Ph.D., Associate Professor at the Swire Institute of Marine Science and Area of Ecology and Biodiversity at The University of Hong Kong. Prof. Russell is an ecophysiologist whose research focuses on the impact of climate change and pollution on ecosystem function, the biology of key species, and how best to manage and conserve ecosystems in this context. He also investigates the human relationship with, and dependence on, marine ecosystems and how these can be made sustainable through nature-based solutions, especially oyster reef restoration. More recently, he is working to develop strategies to maximise blue carbon opportunities by combining economic development and ecosystem restoration.
Adam JANIKOWSKI: Adam is the head of the Explorers Club Hong Kong chapter. He is passionate about ocean sustainability and very proud of his work volunteering with the Nature Conservancy, particularly around oyster reef rehabilitation in Hong Kong. In addition to his Doctorate from the Colorado School of Mines, he has received a B.A.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, a B.A. in Classics, both from Queen's University in Canada, an MBA from INSEAD where he graduated with distinction, and an M.Sc. in Space Resources Development from the Colorado School of Mines. During his M.Sc. program, Adam was part of a team that won NASA’s Big Ideas Challenge for their work in developing laser power beaming on the moon. Adam is also an avid sportsman and has completed the Boston Marathon and the Athens Classic Marathon, earned a first dan black belt in Judo, and completed a successful summit of Mt. Everest, the highest mountain in the world.