New Marine Fish Culture Licences Open for Applications

Invitation for New Marine Fish Culture Licence Application

 

Background :

To fully utilise the surplus carrying capacity of fish culture zones in Hong Kong, while encouraging technological advancement and the adoption of good practices in the mariculture industry, the AFCD plans to issue new marine fish culture licences in two fish culture zones (FCZs), namely Cheung Sha Wan and Wong Wan, that have been identified to have surplus carrying capacity. The application period runs from today until 28 July 2026.

 

Applicants are required to submit detailed business plans explaining how their proposed mariculture operations will ensure sustainable use of the mariculture environment. New licences will include additional conditions to ensure that the operation of the fish farms complies with the intended purpose.

 

The available licensable area in the FCZs is summarized in the table below:

Fish Culture Zones		Available licensable area (sq. m)	Available Unit for application
New Licence	1)      Cheung Sha Wan	3,000	3 ( in a unit of 1,000 sq m)
	2)      Wong Wan	1,700	1 (in a unit of 1,700 sq m)

 

 

Eligibility Criteria:

 

1. Individuals or local legal entities can submit an application for a new marine fish culture licence at Cheung Sha Wan or Wong Wan FCZs. The application unit area for Cheung Sha Wan FCZ is 1,000 sq m.

 

2. AFCD will not consider applications from the following persons:
   
   
   1. whose business has been affected by marine works projects in Hong Kong waters and has been granted ex-gratia allowance to cease his business for good at the FCZ in respect of which the application has been made; and who has undertaken that he/she will not apply to the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation (“DAFC”) for new marine fish culture licence (“the licence”) at the FCZ in respect of which the application has been made. If the company director or shareholder of the incorporated company is the abovenamed person, the company application will not be considered; or
      
      
   2. whose marine fish culture licence was cancelled within the past five years due to contravention of the Marine Fish Culture Ordinance, Marine Fish Culture Regulation and/or the conditions of the licence. If the company director or shareholder of the incorporated company is the abovenamed person, the company application will not be considered; or
      
      
   3. whose business plan mainly involves seafood trade activities[1]

 

 

Details of Application:

 

Please refer to the following link for the application guidelines and application form.

New Marine Fish Culture Licence Application Form (Chinese version only)  

 

Applicants shall submit the completed application form together with the required supporting documents through email: fish_lic_enf@afcd.gov.hk or by post (Guidance on posting) to:

 

Fisheries Licensing Section

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department

8/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices,

303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon

 

The deadline for applications for new marine fish culture licence in Cheung Sha Wan and Wong Wan fish culture zones is 28 July 2026.

 

Enquiry:

 

Please contact the Fisheries Licensing Section, Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department by telephone (2150 7109), fax (2314 2866) or email (fish_lic_enf@afcd.gov.hk) for enquiry.

 

[1] Seafood trade activities refer to seafood traders temporarily holding imported aquatic products in fish rafts.