New Fish Culture Zones

The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) designated four new fish culture zones (FCZs) at Wong Chuk Kok Hoi, Mirs Bay, Outer Tap Mun, and Po Toi (Southeast) in late 2023, covering a total area of approximately 600 hectares. These zones will provide the mariculture industry with a greater room for development and opportunities for upgrading and transformation, while attracting new entrants to the industry.

Situated in open waters with better currents, the new FCZs are well suited to the deployment of large-volume, deep-sea cage systems (such as steel truss cages or high-density polyethylene (HDPE) gravity-type cages) which offer high culture density and resilience against strong winds and waves. When combined with modern aquaculture technologies, including automated feeding and real-time monitoring systems, these setups can help improve fish survival rates, accelerate growth, and yield larger fish with improved flesh quality.

Compared with the small-scale, traditional wooden fish raft operations of the past, the intensified production model to be adopted in the new FCZs represents a more sustainable, environmentally friendly, and more efficient mode of operation. It also reflects the development direction that the Government is committed to promoting.

 

 

 

Steel truss cage

 

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) gravity-type cages

 

Automated feeding

 

Real-time monitoring system

 

Mirs Bay fish culture zone