Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Report 2007-2008
[Director's Message] [Overview] [Agriculture] [Fisheries]
[Inspection and Quarantine] [Nature Conservation] [Country and Marine Parks] [Appendices] |
Fisheries WORK OF THE FISHERIES BRANCH The objectives of the branch are:
THE FISHERIES INDUSTRY The fisheries industry, which comprises capture fisheries, mariculture and pond fish culture, provides a steady supply of fresh fish to the local market. In 2007, the capture fisheries and mariculture sectors accounted for about 25% of all seafood consumed in Hong Kong, whereas pond fish farms produced about 5% of freshwater fish of total consumption. Capture Fisheries In 2007, the number of fishing vessels was about 4 000 and that of local fishermen was about 8 500. The main fishing methods are trawling, long-lining, hand-lining, gill-netting and purse-seining, with about 87% of the total catch obtained through trawling. The estimated number of fishing vessels by type is at Appendix 4. In 2007, the industry produced an estimated 154 000 tonnes of fish products, of which about 41 000 tonnes were consumed in Hong Kong. Mariculture Marine fish culture involves rearing marine fish in cages suspended by floating rafts in sheltered coastal areas. In 2007, there were 1 070 licensed operators in 26 fish culture zones (a location map is at Appendix 5), occupying a sea area of 209 hectares. Most licensed operations are small and family-based, with farm size averaging about 280 square metres. Estimated production in 2007 was 1 530 tonnes, or about 9% of all locally consumed live marine fish. Pond Fish Culture Most inland ponds are located in the Northwest New Territories. These ponds, covering some 1 160 hectares, produced 1 930 tonnes of freshwater fish in 2007. Most ponds practise polyculture of carps mixed with tilapia or grey mullet. Some coastal ponds have been converted to culture brackish species, such as scat, sea bream, pampano and giant grouper, to reap better profits.
SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT The Department has implemented various measures to promote the sustainable development of the fisheries industry. Capture Fisheries Combating Destructive Fishing PracticesHong Kong waters are patrolled regularly to deter destructive fishing practices prohibited under the Fisheries Protection Ordinance, Cap. 171. These practices include the use of explosives, toxic substances, dredging or suction devices and apparatus that transmits electricity. One case of illegal fishing was successfully prosecuted in 2007. Support Services The Department provides technical support, training and liaison services, and credit facilities to fishermen. During the year, the Department continued to liaise with both Mainland and foreign fisheries authorities and agencies to obtain information on recreational fishing, aquaculture, fish processing and offshore fishing, and disseminate it to fishermen. Technical advice was also given to fishermen to help assess their development proposals. The Department also worked with the Marine Department to study the feasibility and technical details of allowing Hong Kong fishing vessels to carry passengers for recreational fishing. To help some 1 200 trawling and purse-seining fishermen affected by the annual two-month fishing moratorium in the South China Sea implemented by the Mainland authorities, special loans are made available under the Fish Marketing Organisation Loan Fund. Some 480 loans amounting to $59.7 million were issued to affected fishermen in 2007. Vocational training courses and seminars were also organised for fishermen during the period to raise their awareness of fisheries management and conservation, and to upgrade their knowledge and skills in vessel operation and fishing techniques. Fisheries Impact AssessmentTo protect fisheries resources and habitats, the Department continued to vet and provide professional advice on development proposals as well as relevant Environmental Impact Assessment studies, monitoring and audit programmes to ensure that the likely impacts of development projects on fisheries would be adequately addressed, evaluated and minimised through effective mitigation. The Department also assisted in conducting investigations in fish kills or water quality deterioration incidents allegedly caused by development projects with a view to providing prompt advice on remedial actions and minimising fish loss.
Under the Marine Fish Culture Ordinance, Cap. 353, all marine fish culture activities in Hong Kong are required to operate under licence in designated fish culture zones. The Department conducts regular patrols in these fish culture zones and takes enforcement actions against illegal mariculture activities. As at March 2008, there were 1 070 licensed mariculturists. To meet the growing public demand for recreational fishing facilities and to help mariculturists diversify their business, the Department has implemented a scheme to allow mariculturists to carry out recreational fishing activities on fish culture rafts. As at March 2008, a total of 11 fish culture zones and 34 licencees have been given the permission to conduct such activities. Safeguarding Aquaculture Environments To minimise the impact of red tides and water quality deterioration on mariculture, the Department conducts regular monitoring on the water quality of fish culture zones and implements red tide monitoring and management measures. The latter includes proactive phytoplankton monitoring before the formation of a red tide and rapid risk assessment of reported red tide incidents. A computerised system using Geographic Information System technology has been established to help visualise the spatial and temporal distribution of red tides and provide a quick analysis of their development and movement. Prompt red tide warnings and technical advice are disseminated to mariculturists and the public through the red tide support groups set up in fish culture zones, press releases and the Red Tide website (www.hkredtide.org).Thirteen red tide incidents were recorded in Hong Kong waters in 2007. All of these were caused by non-toxic algal species. No fish kills arose from any of these incidents. Following the deployment of specially designed artificial reefs known as biofilters to help improve the water quality and seabed environment in the Kau Sai and Sham Wan fish culture zones, eight units of biofilters are being constructed for deployment in Lo Tik Wan fish culture zone. Promoting Good Aquaculture Practices To help fish farmers minimise losses due to fish disease, the Department has put in place a fish health inspection programme. During the year, regular farm visits were conducted to facilitate early detection of disease outbreaks, training was provided to fish farmers on disease prevention measures and fish disease diagnosis and treatment services were given in case of an outbreak. Improved culture techniques and good management practices were introduced to fish farmers through seminars, advisory leaflets and on-farm demonstrations. Accredited Fish Farm Scheme The Department introduced a voluntary Accredited Fish Farm Scheme in mid 2005 to enhance the competitiveness of the local aquaculture industry. Participating fish farms under the scheme are required to adopt a set of good aquaculture practices with a view to raising the environmental hygiene standards of the fish farms and the quality of cultured fish. Quality assurance tests, including analyses of drug residues and heavy metals in fish, are conducted to ensure that all cultured fish meet food safety standards before they are sold in the market. The scheme has been very well received by local mariculturists and pond fish farmers. As at end March 2008, a total of 72 fish farms (21 fish ponds and 51 mariculture farms), representing 12% of the total area of local fish farms, have registered under the scheme. In collaboration with the FMO, the Department continues to publicise and promote the marketing of fish products under this brand name.Culture Trials of New Fish Species To provide a wider choice of species for culture, the Department proactively identifies new species with good market potential that can be recommended to farmers. Following the successful completion of culture trials on jade perch (Scortum barcoo), the Department conducted trials on the hatching of imported fertilised eggs and rearing of fish fry in temperature controlled tanks, and induced spawning of jade perch with a view to helping fish farmers secure a stable supply of fish fry at a lower cost. Jade perch, originated from Queensland, Australia, is a good candidate for pond fish culture. It is of high nutritional value, with an especially high percentage of poly-unsaturated fatty acids. Since 2006, jade perch has been marketed under the Accredited Fish Farm Scheme and well received by the public. Voluntary Registration of Local Aquaculture Farms To promote the quality of local aquaculture farms, the Department implemented in early 2007 a voluntary registration scheme for local pond fish farms. As at March 2008, 264 pond fish farmers have registered under the scheme. Committee on Sustainable Fisheries A Committee on Sustainable Fisheries was set up in December 2006 to study the long term goals and directions as well as feasible options and implementation strategy for the sustainable development of the fisheries industry, with regard to fisheries trends, ecological sustainability, economic viability and other relevant factors, such as financial implications and social impact. The Department chairs and provides supporting services to the Committee. Since its establishment, the Committee has conducted a thorough review of the issues pertaining to local fisheries, and explored various possible measures that might contribute to the sustainable development of the fisheries industry and conservation of marine resources in Hong Kong. The Committee is expected to submit its report in 2009.
To ensure the orderly marketing of fresh marine fish, the Department continued to undertake enforcement actions against illegal wholesale marketing of marine fish in accordance with the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordinance, Cap. 291. Technical and administrative support was also provided to the FMO, a statutory organisation established under Cap. 291, to ensure that orderly fish marketing services were provided to fishermen and fish traders through the wholesale fish markets operated by the FMO. The Department works closely with the FMO to promote local fisheries products. During the year, the FMO continued to develop quality fisheries products at its processing centre and brought local fisheries products, in particular, fish accredited under the Accredited Fish Farm Scheme, to the public through its marketing network. |