Since 2000, corals in northeastern and eastern waters of Hong Kong have been found suffering from bioerosion due to the outbreak of the long-spined sea urchin Diadema setosum. This sea urchin erodes the coral colonies from their base, breaking the colonies into fragments and engulfing the surface living structure of the corals.

Ecosystems Ltd. worked with Prof. Jianwen QIU of Baptist Univeristy of Hong Kong on an AFCD study to to tackle the Diadema Sea Urchins bioerosion problem, to develop a protocol for controlling, rectifying and monitoring the bioerosion problem of stony coral communities in Hong Kong.