| Project | Marine Bio-filters |
| Description | This is a project for the design and construction of Marine Bio-filters in Kau Sai Chai Fish Culture Zone, to solve the marine pollution at its seabed. In 2002, the Hong Kong Government issued its first international tender for these bio-filters; and M&P won this tender with a new design. The project was successfully completed. M&P’s patented design was repeatedly used by the Hong Kong Government to clean up the seabed pollution in other fish culture zones. A surprise result of the marine bio-filters is that they can attract schools of fish to their new eco-systems, and lead to a successful development of eco-tourist industry within Kau Sai Chai Fish Culture Zone. |
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To Resolve Marine Pollution In the 1960′s, Hong Kong Government promoted the fish culture industry to the local community, and 26 fish culture zones were established. Over the years, nutrients had been added and accumulated onto the seabed, in the form of dead fish, fish waste and food waste. These caused marine pollution and increased fish diseases. The government initially tried dredging the polluted mud from the seabed; but that only spreaded the pollution throughout the bay.Finally in 2002, the government issued an international tender, and used M&P’s bio-filters to clean up the marine pollution. |
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Minimum 20-year Design Life The Hong Kong government tender was based on an Israeli design; and additionally, required that each marine bio-filter should have a minimum 20-years design life. M&P studied the tender design and determined that, in Hong Kong’s nutrient rich water, each Israeli bio-filter would be overgrown with barnicles and molluscs, and ceased to function within 10 years. So, M&P produced a new design, which would vibrate with the sea currents and shake down the dead barnicles and molluscs. This would allow the dead marine life to accumulate at the bottom of the bio-filter structure and be removed periodically; and the service life of the bio-filters would be extended. M&P won the tender and the project was successfully completed. |
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To Revitalise the Fish Culture Zone Furthermore, the design succeeded beyond its original intent. Each marine bio-filter established its own eco-system, and attracted schools of fish to feed and dwell on the structure (including schools of migratory fish that visited Hong Kong seasonally). In 2004, barely 2 years upon project completion, the fishermen decided to take advantage of this enhanced marine environment, and diversified into eco-tourism. The Kau Sai Wan Fish Culture Zone has since been transformed into a thriving tourist spot. |