The Swire Institute of Marine Science (SWIMS) is a research facility of The University of Hong Kong, situated on the Cape d’Aguilar peninsula, on the shores of Hong Kong’s only Marine Reserve. SWIMS aims to:
i. develop an internationally acclaimed research centre focusing on marine science in SE Asia and the NW Pacific;
ii. generate a research culture to train young scientists to an international standard who can play a role in the management and conservation of marine resources in the region;
iii. provide an interdisciplinary research environment to initiate novel research ideas and applications; and
iii. foster research and education links and collaborations with other marine facilities in the SE Asian and global scientific community.
To achieve these, research focuses on shallow water marine ecosystems, specifically:
- Ecology and biodiversity: to determine the responses of marine organisms to environmental conditions and the impacts of climate change;
- Anthropogenic impacts: to ascertain the ecotoxicology of pollutants and relevant environmental health standards; and genomic / proteomic responses to stress of commercial species; and
- Conservation and management: to achieve science-based management and conservation of fisheries and marine resources and ecosystems in a sustainable manner.