Cape D'Aguilar Marine Reserve

Cape D'Aguilar Marine Reserve is a protected marine area on the southern coast of Hong Kong, covering roughly 20 hectares between an island and rocky coastline. The reserve contains diverse habitats including coral reefs and seagrass beds that support different species of marine life.

The area was established in 1996 as Hong Kong's sole marine reserve under environmental protection laws. Its creation was based on scientific recognition of how important these habitats are for protecting marine life.

The reserve reflects a long connection between the sea and local people across generations. A whale skeleton from 1955 stands as a reminder of when residents depended heavily on fishing and ocean resources.

The site operates under strict conservation rules and requires special permits from the local environmental authority to visit the interior of the reserve. Fishing, swimming, and collecting marine organisms are not allowed anywhere within the protected area.

The reserve displays four distinct rock types that reveal how volcanic activity shaped the coastal landscape over time. Each formation tells a different story about the geological history of the region through its composition and structure.