Press Releases

Proposal to allow transfer of fish culture licences
Thursday, March 28, 2002

A proposal to empower the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation to approve transfer of fish culture licences was gazetted today (March 28).

The existing Marine Fish Culture Ordinance stipulated that all fish culture operations within designated fish culture zones had to be licenced by the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, a spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) said.

"At present there are about 1,300 fish culture licences and permits. AFCD is not issuing new licences to avoid overcrowding of fish culture farms and to protect the environment.

"However, some progressive marine fish culture operators are eager to expand their operations. There are also new comers who would like to enter the fish culture business. But they cannot do so because the existing law prohibits transfer of fish culture licences," he said.

Legalising transfer of licences will provide a chance for older mariculturists to transfer their licences to other mariculturists or new comers.

"As progressive mariculturists and new comers are usually more willing to invest in new husbandry practices and upgrade fish culture operations, they will help enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the industry.

"The proposal would facilitate the marine fish culture industry to become more efficient through better economy of scale and adoption of modern husbandry practices.

"We have consulted the marine fish culture industry. They generally support the proposal as it would enable the industry to undergo restructuring through transfer of licences," the spokesman said.

Opportunity is also taken to propose technical amendments to provide additional safeguards against any abuse of power by enforcement officers. The penalty provisions of the Ordinance are proposed to be updated to maintain its deterrent effect.

The proposals, outlined in the Marine Fish Culture (Amendment) Bill 2002, will be tabled in the Legislative Council on April 17, 2002.