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 2008, the capture fisheries and mariculture sectors accounted for about 22% of all seafood consumed in Hong Kong, whereas pond fish farms produced about 5% of the total consumption of freshwater fish.

Capture Fisheries

In 2008, the number of fishing vessels was about 3,800 and that of local fishermen was about 8,000. The main fishing methods are trawling, long-lining, hand-lining, gill-netting and purse-seining, with about 86% of the total catch obtained through trawling. The number of fishing vessels by type is at Appendix 4. In 2008, the industry produced an estimated 158,000 tonnes of fish products, of which about 50,000 tonnes were consumed in Hong Kong.

Mariculture

Mariculture involves rearing marine fish in cages suspended by floating rafts in sheltered coastal areas. In 2008, there were about 1,060 licensed operators in the 26 fish culture zones designated under the Marine Fish Culture Ordinance (Cap 353) (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 2008 was 1,370 tonnes, or about 10% 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 2,270 tonnes of freshwater fish in 2008. 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 Practices

Hong 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. Three cases of illegal fishing were successfully prosecuted in 2008.

Artificial Reefs Deployment

Artificial reefs are effective in promoting the growth and development of various marine organisms which in turn provide food, protection and shelter for fish. Since 1996 the Department has been implementing an artificial reefs programme and some 175,000 cubic metres of artificial reefs have been deployed at suitable locations including Marine Parks, and important fish spawning and nursery grounds in Port Shelter and Long Harbour. Over 220 species of fish, including many high-value ones such as grouper, bream, snapper and sweetlip, have been found using the reefs for feeding and shelter, as well as spawning and nursery. To improve the water quality and seabed condition of fish culture zones, artificial reefs used as biofilters were deployed in the Kau Sai, Sham Wan and Lo Tik Wan fish culture zones.

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 formulate their development proposals.

To help some 1,200 fishing vessels affected by the annual two-month fishing moratorium in the South China Sea implemented by the Mainland authorities and the high fuel price in 2008, special fishing moratorium and extra loans were made available to the affected vessels’ owners under the Fish Marketing Organisation Loan Fund. Some 530 fishing moratorium loans and some 260 extra loans totaling $76.5 million were issued to affected fishermen in 2008. 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 Assessment

Aquaculture

Proper Management of Marine Fish Culture Activities

Under the Marine Fish Culture Ordinance (Cap 353), all marine fish culture activities in Hong Kong are required to be operated under licence in designated fish culture zones. The Department conducts regular patrols in these fish culture zones to ensure that fish culture activities comply with the Ordinance and the licence conditions.

To meet the public demand for recreational fishing facilities and to help mariculturists diversify their business, the Department has implemented a scheme to allow mariculturists to operate recreational fishing business on licensed fish culture rafts. As at March 2009, 39 licencees in 9 fish culture zones have been given the permission to conduct such business.

Safeguarding Aquaculture Environment

To minimise the impact of red tides and water quality deterioration on mariculture, the Department regularly monitors water quality of fish culture zones and implements a red tide monitoring and management programme. 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 various fish culture zones, press releases and the Red Tide website (www.hkredtide.org).

Fifteen red tide incidents were recorded in Hong Kong waters in 2008. No fish kills arose from any of these incidents.

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. A new "Good Aquaculture Practices Programme" has been launched in 2008 to enhance fish farm management. Under the programme, the Department visits fish farms regularly to collect water and fish samples for analysis to monitor conditions of the farms. Seminars, on-farm demonstrations and advisory leaflets are given to farmers on new techniques and good management practices.

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 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 March 2009, a total of 82 fish farms (23 fish ponds and 59 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 assisted fish farmers to conduct trials on the hatching of fertilised eggs and rearing of fish fry, and induced spawning of jade perch with a view to helping them 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 as an accredited produce 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 a voluntary registration scheme for local pond fish farms. As at March 2009, 268 pond fish farmers have registered under the scheme.

Promoting Development of Local Fish Hatchery

The Department conducted a fish hatchery trial in Ta Kwu Ling in mid-2008. A training workshop was organised there jointly with the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA) in September 2008 to help local farmers acquire technical know-how and share practical experience with the overseas experts from NACA.

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.

Marketing

Ensuring Orderly Wholesale Marketing

During the year, the Department continued to provide technical and administrative support to the FMO, a statutory organisation established under the Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordinance (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 also continued to undertake enforcement actions against illegal wholesale marketing of marine fish in accordance with Cap 291.

Promotion of Local Fisheries Products

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 to bring local fisheries products, in particular fish accredited under the Accredited Fish Farm Scheme, to the public through its marketing network.