Scuba divers have been invited to help count Hong Kong's fish species and raise money for the World Wide Fund for Nature at the same time.
The Big Fish Count, launched yesterday with the help of Canto-pop star, WWF ambassador and keen diver Ekin Cheng Yi-kin, will be held on June 20. Teams of up to 10 certified divers will be asked to seek sponsorship as they try to spot the highest number of fish species.
Each diver will only be allowed three dives at sites of their choice in Hong Kong's eastern waters.
'Most divers don't know much about the fish they see in the water and the race will help them to increase their knowledge,' said Andy Cornish, the adjudicator of the race.
Dr Cornish is a fish expert at the Swire Institute of Marine Science and has been studying Hong Kong fish since 1995.
Each team will be provided with a checklist of 50 fish species, including the clownfish, garoupa, damselfish and rockfish.