Listen to the sounds around us. This is Inner Deep Bay SSSI. It is a place of vital ecological importance. Let’s discover its secrets together.
Inner Deep Bay SSSI is a shallow coastal bay. It features extensive intertidal mudflats. Dwarf mangroves, shrimp ponds and fishponds back it. These aquaculture activities show how artificial habitats support wildlife. Proper management is key to the success of Inner Deep Bay SSSI.
The tidal shrimp ponds are called Gei wais. They were built in the 1930s. Gei wais are drained in rotation during winter. This attracts waterbirds. They feed on remaining fish and invertebrates. Many Gei wais now serve as roosting spots. They also act as foraging areas for migratory birds. Some are freshwater habitats for dragonflies.
Inner Deep Bay SSSI is home to many species. Thirteen are globally threatened birds. Seventeen are invertebrate species new to science. Between 2007 and 2012, it held over 20% of the global Black-faced Spoonbill population. Twenty-six other waterbird species exist here. Their numbers amount to over 1% of their regional population.
Uncle Bill, an indigenous villager, has seen many changes. His family lived here for three generations. They ran a fish farm. They couldn’t compete with mainland farms in the 90s. He now helps WWF manage the wetland. He fights invasive species. He says the education facilities have improved. Boardwalks allow visitors into the wetland. They do not disturb the wildlife. Gei wai expansion projects offer more food. Migratory birds can eat after the shrimp harvest.
The average water depth in Inner Deep Bay is about 2.9 meters. The mean tidal range is 1.4 meters. The sediment is mainly clay and silt. Hong Kong’s climate is subtropical. Monsoons strongly influence it. Rainfall mainly occurs from April to September.
The major mangrove species here are Kandelia obovata and Avicennia marina. Aegiceras corniculatum and Bruguiera gymnorhiza are also present. Excoecaria agallocha and Acrostichum auerum are other mangrove species. Acanthus ilicifolius is a major mangrove associate.
Inner Deep Bay SSSI supports high bird diversity. Around 440 species have been recorded. This represents about 75% of Hong Kong birds. The site regularly supports 50,000 to 60,000 waterbirds in winter. It is an important feeding and resting ground. Wintering and migratory birds rely on it. Black-faced Spoonbill and Saunders’s Gull are examples. Nordmann’s Greenshank also relies on it.
Most of Inner Deep Bay SSSI is government land. Fishponds are leased to fish farmers. This is the only place in Hong Kong with operating Gei wais. The main activities here are conservation and research. Nature education and ecotourism are also important. People enjoy bird watching and nature appreciation. Some engage in fish farming. Small-scale rural settlements exist too.
In 1995, the Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay area became a Ramsar site. It is a Wetland of International Importance. The site is a vital fueling station. Waterbirds migrate thousands of kilometers between Russia and Australia. The Ramsar Site supports many species. They rely on the secure wetland shelters.
The Mai Po Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Site and a reserve in Shenzhen are sister wetlands. They are ecologically linked. Both serve as over-wintering sites. They also act as refueling stations for waterbirds. These birds travel the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
Inner Deep Bay SSSI stands as a testament. It highlights what we can achieve. Conservation requires dedication. It thrives through cooperation. It reminds us of nature’s delicate balance. Let us protect places like Inner Deep Bay SSSI. Future generations can then marvel at its beauty too.