“Where’s my reef?” asks a dejected-looking fish.
The image and words were formed by 900 schoolchildren and teachers standing together on Repulse Bay Beach to celebrate Kids’ Ocean Day, part of Ocean Appreciation Month.
The youngsters were raising awareness to the plight of coral reefs and the fish that live in them. Reefs are sometimes called the “forests of the ocean”, being responsible for over 25 percent of all life in the sea.
The fish was based on a drawing by Giselle Li, a student at the Victoria Shanghai Academy (which is in Hong Kong, despite the misleading name) and brought to life by “international aerial artist” John Quigley, who has the dream job you never knew existed.
Along with the question and the fish, the kids also created the Chinese characters “節制“, which means to “refrain”.
“Today the children have spoken out, using art as a way of expressing their love for the ocean by creating the shape of a giant reef fish,” said Doug Woodring, the organiser of the event and the founder of Hong Kong’s Ocean Recovery Alliance.
“Hong Kong plays a critical role in the demand and consumption for reef fish in the region, and most of the community does not realise or understand where this type of fish comes from.”
The event, sponsored by Credit Suisse, is in its third year.
Photos: Laurel Chor/Coconuts Media
