The ultimate objectives of Coastal Watch were to survey the size and scale of Hong Kong’s marine litter problem, develop a long-term solution to marine litter, educate a broad segment of the Hong Kong public about our marine environment and inspire and mobilise people from across society to take positive action to shape the future of our waters. Coastal Watch chose six marine habitats: mangroves, mudflats, sandy shores (specifically non-gazetted beaches – i.e. those which receive no regular cleaning), rocky shores, coral communities and coastal water areas (which were visited with the help of the fishing community). By coming to understand the biodiversity of these areas and the way in which they are impacted by marine litter, Coastal Watch sought to formulate practical solutions to conserve our marine environment.