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Community Empowerment
© Milos Bicanski WWF-UK

WWF launched the ECF Sea Without Litter project in 2016 to promote the idea of marine litter source reduction through engagement with the marine recreational industry, fisheries industry and schools. To continue this spirit of empowering society to more proactively solve the marine litter problem, a community-based approach -- by training community leaders and implementing demonstration projects -- was launched in November 2018.
 
The Blue Ocean Incubator programme seeks to implement innovative and sustainable projects in our community, with WWF offering support in the form of training, mentorship and HK$50,000 funding. Six teams were selected to implement their pilot projects starting in September 2019.
 
Blue Ocean Incubator
© WWF-Hong Kong
Cheung Chau Eco Boat Tour

The project team conducted five educational eco boat-tours to raise awareness of marine conservation within the Cheung Chau community, specifically local schools. Led by local tour guides, the two-hour boat tour covered such topics as the marine pollution problem in the Cheung Chau typhoon shelter, Shek Kwu Chau incinerator, Hei Ling Chau of the East Lantau reclamation project, as well as fishermen culture.

Blue Ocean Theatre

To promote ocean conservation and an environmentally friendly lifestyle, an interactive 75-minute drama was performed at local beaches for a total of four sessions in two days. Together with display panels promoting conservation messages, the performance helped audience reflect on the environmental impact of our daily habits.

Fish for Litter

The team collaborated with local fishermen to map, quantify and categorise both surface and underwater marine litter by using fishing vessel-mounted cameras (supplemented with aerial drone surveys) and providing incentives for fishermen to collect litter gathered in nets during normal fishing activities. Through interviews with fishermen, the project team sought to develop an understanding of the origins of fisheries-related litter and quantify the impact of marine litter on local fishing communities.

Trash off

The project seeks to encourage daily waste reduction using viral social media campaigns to promote a zero-waste lifestyle.

Sea Litter: An Archaeology Study from the Future

The project looked at the impact of marine litter through a “future archaeology” study. The team studied materials collected from marine litter clean-ups and recorded the properties of each item through diagrams. The team then produced an online guidebook of marine debris and curated an exhibition showcasing the records and litter collected.

Reusable Takeaway Box Scheme

To promote reusable takeaway containers within the food and beverage industry and reduce single-use plastic, the team provided restaurants with reusable meal boxes and introduced a customer deposit scheme for borrowing takeaway meal boxes. Customers get back their deposit from participating restaurants after returning the meal boxes for reuse.
Litter-Free Alliance
© WWF-Hong Kong

The sources of Hong Kong’s marine litter can differ widely across the territory, depending on the area’s geographical location, orientation and human uses. Understanding the sources of marine litter in the different districts is important in developing more targeted strategies and tactics. To achieve this goal, WWF has been partnering since 2017 with various local community groups including fishermen, community centres, owners’ corporation and district councillors in 10 districts. Through coastline surveys and clean ups, as well as conducting community workshops and forums, we aim to formulate solutions to tackle our marine litter problem.
 
Our partner community, Tai O, has traditional stilt houses that often trap marine litter underneath. Working with the local community, WWF installed a refuse boom in 2018 to prevent marine litter from flushing into the village. The project has helped to engage the local community to take a more active role in environmental protection.