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Consortium on Health, Environment, Education and Research (CHEER)
Introduction
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“Using food wastes as feeds for fish culture” (Innovation Technology Fund) is derived from the previous project (Environment Conservation Fund). The principal aim is to formulate different fish feed pellets from suitable food wastes, catering to various fish species' needs, with varying modes of feeding and nutritional requirements. Results demonstrated that fermented food waste could serve as excellent feeds than commercial feed pellets for rearing low trophic level freshwater fish (tilapia, grass carp, grey mullet).
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“Upgrade food waste-based pellets for growing marine fish” (Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund) is the subsequent project. Fish waste is incorporated into the feed pellets to meet Sabah Hybrid Grouper's higher protein and nutritional requirements. Feed supplements such as baker’s yeast, enzymes, Chinese Traditional Medicines, etc., are included to enhance the feed conversion ratio, growth, and immunity of fish. Fish grown with food waste pellets contain lower undesirable chemicals (DDT, mercury) than those fed trash fish (a traditional feed) and commercial feed pellets. This is because trash fish and fish powder (in commercial pellets made from trash fish) are significant sources of environmental contaminants. The above projects demonstrated that food waste could be converted to feed pellets for producing safe and quality fish at a lower cost. It is vital to promote resource reuse, ease the disposal pressure of food waste, and reactivate the local fishery industry.
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“Ecotoxicology of sewage effluent discharged from two sewage treatment plants to Mai Po RAMSAR site” (Drainage Services Department). Sewage may contain high concentrations of persistent substances (PTS), potentially harmful to local and migratory birds in this important site for biological conservation. Therefore, it is vital to analyse all the PTS in the sewage effluent, which may affect birds' habitats and food items, especially migratory birds. A battery of bioassay tests is used to assess the integrated toxicity of all the PTS discharging into the area.
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“Constructed wetland for sewage treatment and biological conservation” (Drainage Services Department). An artificial wetland has been built along a portion of Ping Yuen River (with water discharging into Shenzhen River) at Tong Fong Village, near Sha Tau Kok, North-East New Territories. The artificial wetland with a variety of wetland plants is aimed to remove contaminants from the sewage overflow from the village and provide a wide range of ecological habitats for attracting birds, dragonflies, butterflies, frogs, and fish.
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“Ecological monitoring of South-East New Territories (SENT) Landfill” (Green Valley Environmental Consultant Co.). Completed domestic landfills are restored with topsoil and vegetation. The principal purpose of this long-term project (renewable every year) is to monitor the growth of plants and changes in soil properties, landfill gas (methane and carbon dioxide), and soil fauna after restoration. The long-term monitoring results provide important information on converting restored landfills for other purposes such as recreation.
Research
Publications
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