A new shellfish culture raft design by HKU students may revitalise the Oyster aquaculture industry in Hong Kong

From left to right: Ms Abigail Zhao (Chief Technology Officer), Mr Meko Law (Chief Executive Officer), Mr Zachery Mok (Chief Information Officer)

A startup company Soonlution led by Mr Meko Law, a science undergraduate student from HKU, and Ms Abigail Zhao, Mr Calvin Ma and Mr Zachery Mok, who are also from HKU, won an award in China (Shenzhen) Innovation ＆ Entrepreneurship Competition with their unique shellfish culture raft design that may revolutionise the traditional shellfish aquaculture practices in Hong Kong and mainland China.

Mr Law explained that the team became determined to find a solution for the Lau Fau Shan oyster growers after taking the course “Oyster aquaculture: business and technology” by Dr Vengatesen Thiyagarajan from the School of Biological Sciences, in which they learnt how the oyster aquaculture industry inflated, peaked, and crashed all within the last century.

Last year, the oyster growers in Lau Fau Shan lost 30-80% of all their rafts to the typhoon Mangkhut, according to Hong Kong Oyster Cultural and Ecological Association, one of Soonlution’s partnering organisations. Unlike other industries, however, they do not receive any protection or compensation from the government. Some oyster growers even resorted to early retirement afterwards.

Mr Law mentioned that many people called Hong Kong aquaculture a sunset industry, but her team believed that the industry simply needed a little push. “After taking the course we knew we had to do something,” said Mr Law.

Soonlution has since worked with a number of companies and organizations, including the local oyster sauce brand Lee Kum Kee and the innovation and entrepreneurship hub of The University of Hong Kong, iDendron, to revitalise the industry using their award-winning design.

This new shellfish culture raft design can withstand signal-10 typhoons and increase oyster yield stability while cutting manpower by over 50 per cent and reducing workplace hazards. The team also plans to apply for the innovation funding from the Innovation and Technology Commission to turn their blueprint into an actual product.

“We will soon bring a solution to the Lau Fau Shan oyster growers and the other aquaculture industries,” said Mr Law.