Southwest Lantau Marine Park

Southwestern Lantau Island | Designated 2020 | ~650 hectares

Southwest Lantau Marine Park covers the coastal waters off southwestern Lantau Island, an area of scenic coastlines, island-dotted seascapes, and important marine habitats. While less studied than other sites in the east, like Hoi Ha Wan, this park contributes to Hong Kong's goal of protecting 30% of its waters by expanding protected area coverage into the southern and western parts of the territory.

Why it matters

Hong Kong's marine protected area network has historically been focused in the east (Hoi Ha Wan, Tung Ping Chau, Yan Chau Tong). Southwest Lantau Marine Park represents a geographic expansion, bringing protected area status to a different marine environment, one influenced by open water, island shelter, and different species compositions.

By User:Geographer, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=33278459

What you'll find there

Coastal and offshore marine habitats
Fish and invertebrate communities of southern Hong Kong waters
Scenic island-coastline interface

Threats & management

Like all Lantau waters, this area faces pressure from vessel traffic, coastal development, and runoff. The park's designation extends protected area management to a regions of Hong Kong that were previously under-protected.

References

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. (n.d.). Southwest Lantau Marine Park. https://sc.afcd.gov.hk/gb/www.afcd.gov.hk/english/country/cou_vis/cou_vis_mar/cou_vis_mar_des/cou_vis_mar_des_swl.html
Information Services Department, Hong Kong SAR Government. (2017, June 23). Draft map of Proposed Southwest Lantau Marine Park available for public inspection [Press release]. https://www.info.gov.hk
Marine Parks (Designation) (Amendment) Order 2019, L.N. 186 of 2019. (2019). Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. https://www.legco.gov.hk/yr19-20/english/subleg/negative/2019ln186-e.pdf