AFCD identify the Ecologically Important Stream (EIS) and the freshwater marsh at So Lo Pun as being of ecological importance

Minutes of 1032^nd  Meeting of the Town Planning Board held on 26.4.2013

At Para 78(n) of the Minutes of 1032^nd  Meeting of the Town Planning Board held on 26.4.2013, the following is recorded:

“According to the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD), the wetland system in So Lo Pun including the intertidal habitats with mangrove and seagrass bed, reed pond, a natural stream identified as EIS and the freshwater marsh were of ecological importance.

A relatively  high diversity of fish and a number of species of conservation interest including water fern Ceratopteris thalictroides (水蕨), seagrass Zostera japonica (矮大葉藻) and a bat species Tylonycteris robustula (褐扁顱蝠), as well as the uncommon dragonfly Orthetrum poecilops poecilops (班灰蜻) and a fish species Oryzias curvinotus (弓背青鱂), had been recorded in the wetland complex.

According to the available information, the So Lo Pun EIS and its adjoining freshwater marsh was one of the remaining habitats in Hong Kong that supported a healthy and natural population of Oryzias curvinotus.

In addition, the water fern Ceratopteris thalictroides, which was a protected plant in China, had been recorded throughout the marsh. These important habitats for a variety of rare and uncommon flora and fauna should be protected.”

According to AFCD’s own website, this is the entry for Oryzias curvinotus

Freshwater Fish of Hong Kong

iii) Oryzias curvinotus (Nichols et Pope, 1927)

Oryzias curvinotus is a primary freshwater fish that belongs to the Adrianichthyidae family. It has a short dorsal fin located at the posterior half of the body, very close to the caudal fin. O. curvinotus is mostly found in rice fields, and thus has the common name 'rice fish' (Oryziasmeans rice in Latin). It is also found in pools, reservoirs and slow flowing streams.

The local populations of O. curvinotus are recorded in less than ten localities, including a few streams in Sai Kung and Lantau as well as some reservoirs in the North District and Tuen Mun. Regional distribution covers the southeast regions of China.

See link below:

http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/conservation/hkbiodiversity/speciesgroup/speciesgroup_freshwaterfish.html