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Our Environment
One of the goals of The Dragon Run is to raise awareness of the marine environmental issues facing Hong Kong, giving further example to how important our ocean and coastal waters are to the community. The race proudly supports the following organizations:
WWF – Save our Seas (SOS) Campaign
Stanley Sea School
Hong Kong territory encompasses a collection of 262 islands and peninsulas in the South China Sea. Ocean paddlers of all craft (surf skis, outrigger canoes and kayaks) experience nature at its best. Beautiful coastlines, blue oceans, and frequent sightings of ocean life combine to make this sport unique. Hong Kong’s often rugged coastline and stunning beaches are the perfect setting for an international class Ocean Kayaking and Outrigger Canoeing race. Not many people realize what a stunning ocean environment exists in Hong Kong, but those who have experienced what we have at our doorstep know that Hong Kong offers some of the best ocean paddling conditions on the planet. This race will hopefully enhance people’s awareness of Hong Kong’s ocean environment and beautiful coastline.
Event Goals:
- Inspire Hong Kong citizens to keep our public coastal areas clean and waste free
- Advocate partnerships to ensure Hong Kong will enjoy a greener, safer and more prosperous future
- Increase safe and healthy beach and water sport activity in the region
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WWF – Save Our Seas (SOS) Campaign
Hong Kong’s seas have been, and remain one of its most amazing assets. Back in the 1950s, the local waters were rich with all sorts of marine life. We have 80 hard coral species, which outnumber those in the entire Caribbean, and around 1,000 fish species including Sharks and Green turtles.
Today these species are scant in our waters and large predator fish are hardly seen. The marine environment has been damaged by land reclamation, dredging and dumping, pollution, and decades of commercial fishing without sustainable fisheries management. The good news is that as the city prospers, local people are increasingly turning to the sea for recreation, driving a new era where the seas are once again treated as a source of pleasure and pride.
WWF has been devoting efforts to push for better ways to treat sewage and for reclamation to be more sensitively planned. Through its Save Our Seas campaign, WWF asks the government to stop fishing in all the existing marine parks, stop uncontrolled fishing and operate 10% of our waters as marine sanctuaries – “no-take” zones –
to protect marine biodiversity and restore Hong Kong’s fish resources.
The ocean belongs to all of us and we should protect it for our future generations.
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