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Yan Chau Tong Marine Park

Double_Haven_1.jpg

Seagrass meadows | Northeast New Territories | Designated 1996 | ~680 hectares

Yan Chau Tong Marine Park protects quiet, sheltered bays in the northeast New Territories, including Double Haven and Lai Chi Wo. Unlike the famous coral reefs of Sai Kung, Yan Chau Tong's treasures are hidden beneath the surface: seagrass beds, mangroves, and soft-bottom communities that support Hong Kong's coastal food web from behind the scenes.

Why it matters

Seagrass meadows are the ocean's unsung heroes. They stabilize sediments, store carbon in their roots, and provide nursery grounds for juvenile fish, crabs, and invertebrates. Yan Chau Tong shows that conservation isn't just about colourful reefs, it's also about protecting the less flashy habitats that keep the whole system running.

By Minghong - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10967174

What you'll find there
  • Seagrass beds (nursery habitat for juvenile fish)
  • Mangroves along sheltered shorelines
  • Mudflats and soft-bottom communities
  • Rich fishery resources, including commercially important species
Threats & management

Seagrasses are easily damaged by anchoring, trawling, and coastal development. The park's protected status restricts these damaging activities, and the seagrass bed at Lai Chi Wo has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This shows recognition that these underwater meadows are ecologically irreplaceable.

References
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