June for Earth - Film screening & Conference

In English
For everyone
Free

City of Shells: Our Forgotten Oyster Reefs (香江遺礁) screening & Conference with Marine Thomas and Prof. Bayden Russell

In the context of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference, taking place in Nice, France, from June 9 to 13, 2025, AF is raising environmental awareness throughout the month of June. From the underwater photography exhibition by Hong Kong photographer Alan Lo to the screening of City of Shells on oyster reef restoration in Hong Kong, and even the creation of your own kokedama terrarium, head to Jordan to learn more about environmental protection!

Film screening 

City of Shells: Our Forgotten Oyster Reefs (香江遺礁),  sheds light on this lost marine habitat and the urgent efforts to restore it. Produced and directed by Mike Sakas, the film follows researchers, historical ecologists, and restoration scientists as they explore the vital role oyster reefs played in Hong Kong's history and economy, highlighting why their restoration is crucial for the city's environmental resilience and sustainability.

Oyster reefs are one of the most endangered marine habitats on the planet, with over 85% lost globally due to overharvesting, pollution, and urban development. Hong Kong is no exception—once home to extensive shellfish ecosystems, its reefs have been relentlessly dredged, mined for lime production, and buried under reclamation projects over the centuries.

Despite their critical role in cleaning water, providing habitats for marine life, and protecting coastlines from erosion, these ecosystems remain largely absent from marine conservation policies. Unlike coral reefs and mangroves, oyster reefs lack formal recognition and official protection. Without an increase in local conservation efforts, they risk complete disappearance in Hong Kong waters—along with the immense environmental benefits they provide.

Q&A Panel

- Marine Thomas is the Associate Director of Conservation for The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Hong Kong. She is responsible for overseeing TNC’s marine conservation projects on the ground, with a current focus on restoring natural habitats and developing sustainable oyster aquaculture.
- Professor Bayden Russell is the Associate Director of SWIMS and Associate Professor at School of Biological Sciences, HKU.