The Macau Journalists Association (MJA) has hosted a talk and workshop entitled “City and Ocean” about the Pearl River region’s marine ecological value and its present status
The event was held on the MJA premises in Viva Court near Praça do Tap Seac on Saturday. It involved a presentation by activists from the CrossBorder Environmental Concern Association (CECA) (廣州珠灣人和生態環境研究中心) to talk about the relationship between urban development and the marine environment.
According to a statement on the association’s Facebook page, the event aimed to introduce the mainland’s newest policies and environmental impact assessment on marine protection which could be suitable for Macau to use; inform the public about how to read and understand marine impact assessment reports; and teach the public to use Google Earth to do ecological research.
One of the examples given by the CECA activists was the habitats of Sousa chinensis, also known as Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin, or Chinese white dolphin. According to the statement, a construction project in 2017 entitled “Zhuhai Chimelong Island Reclamation Project” might have affected the dolphins’ habitat. The statement said that CECA addressed the concern by letter to the relevant authorities, adding that the letter reflected the reclamation project’s possible impact on the dolphins.
The activists also pointed out that due to COVID-19, social distancing and travel restrictions have become the norm, which both have had a positive impact on the environment, in which the dolphins were found in sea areas near Hong Kong in March.
According to the CECA presentation, the association aims to protect the ecological environment and oceans and coasts’ species by promoting public participation; assessing the authorities’ announcements on land and space planning; comparing marine and coastal development projects with national environmental protection policies; and communicating with government entities in a timely manner.
CECA eco-activists give a presentation entitled “City and Ocean” on Saturday on the premises of the Macau Journalists Association in Viva Court. Photo: Ula Cheang
