Western Waters
The western waters include Deep Bay (Shenzhen Bay) and Urmston Road with a total area of 229.1 km2. The region is subjected to fast urban development on the Shenzhen side but yet exhibit substantial ecological significance. Mai Po and Inner Deep Bay Ramsar Wetland serves as an important over-wintering and refueling site for the waterbirds during their migrations. Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park is an important habitat for Chinese White Dolphin. There is only one fish culture zone in this area - Ma Wan on the eastern end. On the other hand, oyster fields can be found along the intertidal mud flat of Deep Bay.
The rapid urban development and pollutant from Pearl River water has worsen the water quality of Western Waters especially in Deep Bay. Nutrients and dissolved oxygen give rare compliance to the water quality objective in inner Deep Bay and have a rising trend due to discharge of wastewater from Shenzhen River. Situation in the Urmston Road is better due to stronger tidal flushing, but the nutrient level is significantly higher in wet seasons due to Pearl River runoff. However, red tides seldom occur in Deep Bay due to its high turbidity and suspended solids level. During the period from 1975 to 2008, 41 red tides were reported in Western Waters, which is round 5% of the total number in Hong Kong.
Risk of red tide occurrence:
 Low < 30 % (Forecast for 2012-04-19)
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