【News Buddy】3D打印「礁盤」 跨界保育珊瑚
【原文】下文摘錄自9月15日香港《文匯報》︰
香港的海岸線有近90種石珊瑚，惟面對全球暖化，海水溫度上升，導致珊瑚白化愈趨嚴重，近年香港水域正廣泛地失去珊瑚群落。信和集團、香港創新基金、海洋公園及本地初創企業等攜手推動本港首個跨界合作的珊瑚保育計劃「活化珊瑚行動」。該計劃包括在香港南部海域進行生態研究，分析珊瑚棲息地環境，重建珊瑚礁面貌，並利用3D打印技術，透過赤陶製成珊瑚礁盤，讓碎落的珊瑚依附其上並移植到本港海床生長。預計未來3年，計劃可為所有珊瑚礁盤成功種植超過120棵被拯救的珊瑚碎片，重建20平方米的人工珊瑚礁。
「活化珊瑚行動」於深水灣進行生態研究調查，基於科學數據分析珊瑚棲息地環境的過去及現況，重建原有珊瑚礁的面貌，復育本地珊瑚品種。香港環保科技初創公司archiREEF與港大團隊合作，利用3D打印技術研發出赤陶土製成珊瑚礁盤，讓碎落的珊瑚依附生長，給予牠們第二次存活的機會。
人工珊瑚礁盤會先於海洋公園的珊瑚養殖設施，由專業護理團隊悉心培育。經過修復及保育的珊瑚碎片，將於適合情況下移植到深水灣的海底，並持續監測珊瑚的成長情况。他們預期未來3年內，所有珊瑚礁盤將能成功種植超過120棵被拯救的珊瑚碎片，重建20平方米的人工珊瑚礁，從而為更多本地海洋生物提供宜居之所。
archiREEF聯合創辦人、港大生態學及生物多樣性學系副教授David M.Baker在計劃啟動儀式上表示，珊瑚礁為海洋生物提供寶貴的棲息地。他們深信科學及科技能有助促進珊瑚礁生長，並緩解氣候變化和海岸發展所造成的壓力。
他們所研發的3D打印珊瑚礁盤，可在海床重建堅固的表面，讓珊瑚依附並成長為新的珊瑚礁，避免珊瑚受海床的沉積物侵蝕，同時提供生物相容表面讓珊瑚附着，有效提高珊瑚存活率至高達98%。
環境及生態局副局長黃淑嫻於儀式上表示，漁護署及初創企業在2020年中開始研究珊瑚復育。特區政府對「活化珊瑚行動」很有信心，「2020年中開始，在海下灣的海岸公園投放超過120個3D打印珊瑚礁盤，都錄得有珊瑚魚以及其他海洋生物出沒及聚居，在此公園成功進行的研究，令我們對『活化珊瑚行動』能取得成功，充滿信心及期盼。」
信和集團聯席董事黃永龍表示，教育及社區參與是保護大自然和生物多樣性的重要一環，希望藉着項目提供各類教育和社區參與活動，提高大眾對海洋保育意識，包括「活化珊瑚大使計劃」及珊瑚工作坊讓小朋友輕鬆學習。
「活化珊瑚大使計劃」將於本月底開始招募百名8歲至13歲的海洋愛好者，讓參加者認識珊瑚生態，他們甚至有機會透過參與浮潛活動、本地生態導賞團，以及親手護理園內培育的珊瑚，近距離觀賞珊瑚，深度學習及參與珊瑚保育，並協助在學校推廣保育珊瑚活動。
3D Printing "Reef Plate" Conserves Hong Kong Coral
【譯文】Hong Kong's long coastline is home to nearly 90 species of stony coral, but in the face of global warming and rising sea temperatures, coral bleaching is becoming more severe, and coral communities are being widely lost in Hong Kong waters in recent years. Sino Group, the Hong Kong Innovation Foundation, Ocean Park and local start-ups have joined hands to launch Hong Kong's first cross-boundary coral conservation project, the "CORAL REEFStoration". The project includes an ecological study in the southern waters of Hong Kong to analyze the coral habitat and reconstruct the coral reefs, as well as using 3D printing technology to make terracotta reef trays to which fallen corals can cling and be transplanted to the seabed. It is expected that in the next three years, more than 120 coral fragments will be successfully planted on all the reef trays, and 20 square meters of artificial coral reefs will be rebuilt.
The "CORAL REEFStoration" conducts ecological research surveys in the Deep Water Bay based on scientific data to analyze the past and present conditions of coral habitats, to rebuild the original reefs and restore local coral species. The Hong Kong environmental technology start-up archiREEF collaborated with the University of Hong Kong team to develop terracotta reef trays using 3D printing technology, allowing fallen corals to attach and grow, giving them a second chance to survive.
The artificial coral reef tray will be cultivated by the professional care team before the coral cultivation facility in Ocean Park. The rehabilitated and conserved coral fragments will be transplanted to the bottom of Deep Water Bay where appropriate, and the growth of the corals will be continuously monitored. They expect that within three years, all the reef trays will be successfully planted with over 120 rescued coral fragments, rebuilding 20 square meters of artificial coral reefs, thus providing a livable place for more local marine life.
David M. Baker, the co-founder of archiREEF and Associate Professor of Ecology and Biodiversity at the University of Hong Kong, said at the launching ceremony that coral reefs provide valuable habitat for marine life. They believe that science and technology can help promote the growth of coral reefs and relieve the pressure caused by climate change and coastal development.
The 3D-printed coral reef tiles they developed can rebuild a solid surface on the seabed for corals to attach to and grow into new reefs. The reef tiles prevent corals from being eroded by seabed sediments and provide a biocompatible surface for corals to adhere to, effectively increasing the survival rate of corals to as high as 98%.
Under Secretary for the Environment and Ecology, Miss Wong Suk-han, said at the ceremony that AFCD and start-ups started to study coral rehabilitation in mid-2020. "Over 120 3D-printed coral reef trays will be placed in the Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park before mid-2020, where coral fish and other marine organisms have been recorded to live in the park."
Sino Group Joint Director Mr. Wong Wing-lung said that education and community involvement is an important part of protecting nature and biodiversity. We hope that the project will provide a variety of educational and community involvement activities to raise public awareness of marine conservation, including the "CORAL REEFStoration Ambassador Programme" and coral workshops for children to learn easily.
"CORAL REEFStoration Ambassador Programme" will start recruiting 100 marine enthusiasts aged 8 to 13 at the end of this month. The participants will be introduced to coral ecology. They could even learn and participate in coral conservation by participating in snorkeling activities, local eco-tours, and hands-on care of the corals cultivated in the park to see the corals close range, as well as helping to promote coral conservation activities in schools.◆ 琬琰
