Marine Park Permit
Fisheries Management in Marine Parks and Marine Reserve
No person shall fish by any means in a marine reserve.
For the marine parks, only holder of a valid marine park fishing permit granted in accordance with the Marine Parks and Marine Reserves Regulation (Cap. 476A) (the Regulation) may fish in marine parks. Pursuant to the power granted under the Regulation, the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation may grant a marine park fishing permit to a bona fide fisherman1 or a person who ordinarily resides near the marine park2 . The permit allows the holder to conduct fishing activities in the specified marine park.
Please note that the Marine Parks and Marine Reserves (Amendment) Regulation 2019 came into effect on April 1, 2020 for implementation of the new fisheries management strategy in marine parks (the new strategy). Under the new strategy, commercial fishing by local fishing vessels registered under the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171) is allowed to continue in The Brothers Marine Park, Southwest Lantau Marine Park, South Lantau Marine Park, North Lantau Marine Park and new marine parks to be designated in the western waters through the marine park fishing permit system. To protect coral communities as well as to enhance the overall fisheries resources in Hong Kong, commercial fishing has been banned in four specified marine parks, namely the Hoi Ha Wan Marine Park (HHWMP), Yan Chau Tong Marine Park (YCTMP) and Tung Ping Chau Marine Park (TPCMP) in the eastern waters and the Sha Chau and Lung Kwu Chau Marine Park (SCLKCMP) in the western waters.
Remarks:
1. Bona fide fisherman generally refers to a person who involves in the fisheries industry and owns a local fishing vessel registered under the Fisheries Protection Ordinance (Cap. 171).
2. Person who ordinarily resides near the marine park generally refers to a person whose residence is in close proximity to the marine park, and who resided near the marine park prior to the designation of the subject marine park, and is currently residing near the marine park.
Commercial Fishing Ban in Four Specified Marine Parks
A transitional period of two years was provided under the commercial fishing ban on the four specified marine parks for fishermen to adapt. The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) no longer grants new fishing permits for the HHWMP, YCTMP, TPCMP and SCLKCMP since April 1, 2020. No fishing permits were renewed with validity periods beyond the transitional period, i.e. by March 31, 2022. The abovementioned commercial fishing ban is not be applicable to fishing permits granted to local residents.
Arrangement for ex-gratia allowance to fishermen affected by new fisheries management strategy in marine parks has been completed.
Marine Parks Fishing Permit
Marine parks fishing permit for fishermen in The Brothers Marine Park, Southwest Lantau Marine Park, South Lantau Marine Park and North Lantau Marine Park is now open for application. There is no deadline for the application, and fishermen can apply according to the operation situation of their fishing vessels.