14 Projects Granted Over HK$11 Million from Marine Ecology Enhancement Fund and Fisheries Enhancement Fund

(HONG KONG, 6 August 2021, 1500hrs) – The Marine Ecology Enhancement Fund (MEEF) and Fisheries Enhancement Fund (FEF) have granted a total of HK$11.2 million to 14 projects for a 12-month period from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022. The funded projects are managed and carried out by universities, research organisations, and fisheries industry associations. Five multi-year projects have received their second-phase or third-phase funding.

Under the MEEF, some HK$6.6 million has been disbursed to 11 projects, with research topics covering marine vessel interactions with Chinese white dolphins and Indo-Pacific finless porpoises by forensic investigation; shell recycling and marine habitat restoration; the impact of heavy metal pollution on sea grass; the environmental tolerance of octocoral (Guaiagorgia); the impact of electronic waste on Chinese white dolphins; and more.

Under the FEF, three projects focusing on areas including pearl farming and the development of high-protein fish feed have received a total of about HK$4.6 million.

Applications for the MEEF and FEF are reviewed and approved by independently operated Management Committees (MCs) based on criteria including the proposed projects’ objectives, past performance, methodology, manpower, resources and budget. MC members comprise scholars and experts from related fields as well as representatives from green groups and fishermen’s associations. The progress and outcomes of the funded projects are monitored by their respective MCs.

The MEEF and FEF are independent funds set up in accordance with the conditions of the Environmental Permit for the expansion of Hong Kong International Airport into a Three-runway System, with the aim to enhance the marine environment, ecology and fisheries resources. Airport Authority Hong Kong has injected a total of HK$400 million into the MEEF and FEF.  Since the establishment of the funds in 2017, about HK$55.4 million has been granted from the funds to support marine ecology and fisheries projects.

More details about the projects can be found at:
http://env.threerunwaysystem.com/en/meef/meef_projects.html and
http://env.threerunwaysystem.com/en/fef/fef_projects.html