Reviving Hong Kong's Ocean Heritage - Our Forgotten Oyster Reefs
Snap, Play & Discover! Explore Ocean Wonders with the Whole Family at Cityplaza
HONG KONG, Aug. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is excited to bring its immersive roving exhibition, "Reviving Hong Kong's Ocean Heritage: Our Forgotten Oyster Reefs," to Cityplaza from August 22 to September 4, 2025. This engaging public showcase explores the urgent need to restore one of Hong Kong's most overlooked yet vital marine ecosystems – the oyster reefs. Once abundant along our coastlines, oyster reefs have quietly disappeared, and with them, their many benefits for marine life, water quality, and coastal protection. This exhibition aims to reconnect the public with these forgotten natural allies and spark meaningful conversation and action on marine conservation.
The exhibition offers a fresh and dynamic learning experience through a blend of science, storytelling, and interactivity. Visitors of all ages will discover the ecological, historical, and cultural significance of oyster reefs through engaging displays and hands-on features. The latest edition introduces a range of new, site-specific experiences designed to inspire curiosity and deepen understanding.
Visitors can dive into the fascinating world of oysters at the OysterScope Lab, where they can peer through real microscopes to observe the incredible life cycle of an oyster — from tiny larvae to mature reef builders. This rare, close-up look at oyster development brings marine biology to life in front of your eyes.
Just steps away, visitors can enjoy Meet the Giant Oyster Babies — a vibrant photo corner featuring giant plush baby oysters and a cast of colorful underwater characters. Designed for fun and engagement, it's the perfect spot to capture memories and immerse in the playful spirit of the ocean.
In addition to these new experiences, the exhibition continues to showcase its signature highlights. Visitor can embark on a virtual reality journey to Deep Bay and Pak Nai, examine a full-scale traditional oyster farming model featuring real oyster poles from Deep Bay, and watch a compelling water filtration demonstration video that shows how oyster naturally clean the water. A coastal resilience simulation illustrates how oyster reefs help stabilize shorelines and protect against erosion. Real marine specimens are also on display, offering a tactile and visual way to learn about marine biodiversity. A brand-new augmented reality game gives visitor the opportunity to step into the role of a marine conservationist, deploying virtual oyster shells and restore digital marine habitats. The short documentary City of Shells: Our Forgotten Oyster Reefs will also be screened onsite, retracing over a thousand years of oyster cultivation and its cultural significance to the Pearl River Delta.
Throughout the exhibition, visitors who participate in games or sign up through Instagram will receive limited-edition gifts featuring the popular Oyster Babies and other themed tokens, available on a first-come, first served basis while supplies last.
The exhibition comes at a critical time. Globally, more than 85% of oyster reefs have vanished due to coastal development, pollution, overharvesting, and climate change. In Hong Kong, only about 6% of marine waters are under protection, far below the global target of 30%, leaving critical ecosystems such as oyster reefs highly vulnerable. Oysters are natural ecosystem engineers, capable of filtering large volumes of water, creating habitats for marine species, and acting as natural buffers against storm surges. At summer temperatures, a single adult local oyster can filter up to 960 liters of water a day — even more for the Hong Kong oyster (Magallana hongkongensis)!
"This exhibition brings together science, culture and creativity to inspire public connection with the ocean," said Anthony Gao, Executive Director for TNC Hong Kong and Regional Partnerships. "Oyster reefs are essential for a healthy and resilient marine environment, yet their ecological importance has been largely forgotten. Through this exhibition, we aim to bring the forgotten story of oyster reefs to life through creative visuals and engaging experiences that resonate with younger generations. Cityplaza is a fantastic venue to bring this message to life for families and children, and we hope this experience will inspire more people to join us in protecting and restoring our ocean heritage."
This roving exhibition is part of TNC's broader efforts to build public awareness and support for marine protection in Hong Kong. It also complements the organization's science-based work to advocate for stronger conservation policies, including the proposed Coastal Protection Park (CPP), a new conservation area in the Northern Metropolis that could become a world-class model of ecological restoration, sustainable livelihoods, and community engagement.
The exhibition will continue to appear at various locations across the city in the months ahead, including at ReThink Expo on September 11–12, 2025, as part of Hong Kong's leading sustainability event.
These efforts would not be possible without the support and collaboration of our partners. TNC extends its heartfelt thanks to the Swire Group Charitable Trust for its generous support, to Swire Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS) and the Explorers Club Hong Kong (ECHK) for their expertise and collaboration, and to venue sponsor Cityplaza for providing a welcoming and accessible space for public engagement. Their contributions have been instrumental in reconnecting communities with Hong Kong's marine heritage and inspire collective action to protect oyster reefs and restore our coastal ecosystems.
Join us at Cityplaza to explore, learn, and celebrate Hong Kong's marine heritage — and don't forget to snap a photo with our giant Oyster Babies before summer ends!
Cityplaza Exhibition Details:
Dates: August 22 to September 4, 2025
Exhibition e: 11:00 – 21:00
Gift Redemption Time: 11:00 – 18:00
Venue: G/F, Cityplaza (near APiTA)
Free Admission
Upcoming Exhibition (ReThink Expo):
Dates: September 11 and 12, 2025
Time: 08:45 – 18:00
Venue: (Booth H05) Hall 1, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, WanChai, Hong Kong
Registration: https://register.rethink-event.com/general
About The Nature Conservancy Hong Kong (TNC)
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping to make cities more livable. Working in more than 81 countries and territories, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. TNC has been in Asia Pacific for almost 30 years with projects in Australia, mainland China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Mongolia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. In 2019, TNC was awarded the Lui Che Woo Prize for Sustainable Development. To learn more. please visit:
Website: www.tnc.org.hk
Facebook: TNC HK 大自然保護協會
Instagram: @tnc_hk
About TNC's Reef Resilience Network
2025 marks the 20th anniversary of TNC's Reef Resilience Network — a global platform that has trained over 55,000 marine professionals in 92 countries and provides science-based tools to more than 1 million users annually. From Hong Kong's oyster beds to coral reefs worldwide, TNC is committed to building a more resilient future for our oceans.
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SOURCE The Nature Conservancy
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