19th Ocean Park Conservation Day
 
The 19thOcean Park Conservation Day was a huge success under the theme of "Speak Up For Our Oceans". Held on 11 January, 2014, the event was aimed at educating and inspiring visitors through a series of activities, as well as encouraging them to turn their love into actions and protect our oceans!
 

The Foundation has been working closely with Ocean Park to drive conservation awareness and action across Hong Kong and Asia. Ms Judy Chen (left), Chair of OPCFHK and Dr. Allan Zeman (right), Chairman of Ocean Park shared at the celebration ceremony the joint conservation efforts of the Foundation and Ocean Park and the results over the past year.
 

Ms Judy Chen, Dr. Allan Zeman and Ms Suzanne Gendron (right 2), Foundation Director of OPCFHK, officiated the opening of the ceremony together with Mr. Joseph Sham (right 3), Assistant Director (Country and Marine Parks), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, and Ms Gigi Leung, OPCFHK's Marine Conservation Ambassador, to signify their joint efforts in protecting marine animals from marine debris, marine traffic and overfishing.

It was our great honour to have Dr. Amanda Vincent (left), Director and Co-founder of Project Seahorse, and Dr. Paul Shin (middle), Associate Professor, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong to share with us their achievements in seahorse and horseshoe crab conservation. Ms Gigi Leung also brought us tips to conserve our marine environment.
 

As in previous years, Ocean Park generously donated the entirety of the admission revenue on Conservation Day to the Foundation. Dr. Allan Zeman, GBM, GBS, JP (right 5), Chairman of Ocean Park, Mr. Tom Mehrmann (right 3), Chief Executive of Ocean Park, and Mr. Matthias Li (right 2), Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer of Ocean Park, presented a cheque to the Foundation, with the presence of our officiating guest Mr. Joseph Sham (right 4), Assistant Director (Country and Marine Parks), Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, and Ms Gigi Leung (left 3), OPCFHK’s Marine Conservation Ambassador. Ms Judy Chen (left 5), Chair of OPCFHK, Ms Suzanne Gendron (left 4), Foundation Director of OPCFHK, Mr. Richard Tsang (left 1) and Prof. Becky Loo (left 2), Trustees of OPCFHK received the cheque on behalf of the Foundation. We raised over HK$3 million from Ocean Park and various donors to support our wildlife conservation efforts across Asia.
 
 
We developed panels to illustrate the impact of marine debris, marine traffic and overfishing on horseshoe crabs, Chinese white dolphins, seahorses and other marine species. Our volunteers are proactive to explain to visitors.
 

 

Conservation-themed face and body painting, coloring, origami and handicrafts provided extra fun to guests!
 

Many guests turned their love into action and pledged to support marine conservation. Together, we speak up for our oceans!
 

The special "Conservation Sew Mates" workshop made its debut on Conservation Day which was well received. Families and friends made their own Chinese white dolphin, seahorse and horseshoe crab toys and learnt more about these precious marine animals.
 
 
The International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP) and Project Seahorse Foundation brought us the beauty of the Philippines' Danajon Bank through spectacular marine photos! The Danajon Bank is one of the world’s six double barrier reefs. Sadly, this coral reef system—home to over 200 marine species—is facing many threats such as overfishing, destructive fishing methods, pollution and climate change. From the beauty the exhibition portrayed, Ocean Park visitors were able to understand more on the importance of marine conservation.
 
 
 
The continuous support from our donors has empowered us to conserve the biodiversity in Asia. To thank our major corporate sponsors and donors for their exceptional support over the past year, we organised the "Donor Appreciation Reception" on the same day to highlight some of our achievements in wildlife conservation.
 

 

Two students from City University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, who have joined the University Student Sponsorship Programme in 2013, shared their precious field experience with our donors. To express their heartfelt appreciation, the students also presented the programme sponsor Dr. Allan Zeman a painting created by all the sponsored students.