PRIMARY PRODUCTION
increasing urbanisation of the New Territories. During the year, pond culture yielded 5 400 tonnes, or 13 per cent of the local consumption of freshwater fish.
Fisheries Development
The Agriculture and. Fisheries Department conducts a wide spectrum of studies on marine resources, aquaculture and the environmental impact of development activities on fisheries to assist the development of the local fishery industry.
Marine resource studies emphasise optimising production from currently exploited fisheries resources and exploring the potential of under-developed resources. Efforts to develop a deep sea prawn resource located in the South China Sea at depths between 500 to 1 000 metres continued. In addition, pair trawl fishermen were directed towards a deep sea prawn species occurring at 200 metres depth. This was pursued by interested fishermen with onboard freezing equipment provided by the Fish Marketing Organisation.
Large scale development projects involving construction works affecting the foreshore and seabed exert adverse impact on the marine environment and marine resources. To offset such impact and to enhance recovery, the department is actively investigating the feasibility of deploying artificial reefs.
Aquaculture studies are directed towards the development of more efficient culture systems and improved husbandry techniques to increase productivity and minimise impact on the environment. The feasibility of open sea cage culture is being explored with a view to introducing marine fish culture to more exposed coastal waters. Marine environment studies are conducted to assess the impact of pollution and red tides on fisheries, particularly mariculture operations, to help the industry minimise production loss.
Fisheries development work includes modernising fishing craft and introducing more efficient fishing gear and navigational aids. A free advisory service on fishing vessel hull design, fishing methods and fishing equipment is available to fishermen while studies are conducted to assess the suitability of new fishing gear and methods for local application. Training classes in navigation, engineering, radiotelephony, use of ancillary equipment such as radar and weather facsimile, and seminars on safety on board fishing vessels at sea are organised regularly at major fishing ports.
The department also advises local fishermen interested in building steel-hulled fishing vessels and organises sea-fishing endorsement courses to train and qualify them to operate these vessels.
The department administers four loan funds servicing the fishing fleet. The Fisheries Development Loan Fund with a capital of $7 million provides long-term capital for the development of improved vessels, gear and equipment. The World Refugee Year Loan Fund, the Fish Marketing Organisation Loan Fund and the Co-operative for American Relief Everywhere Loan Fund with total capital of $26.52 million at the end of 1992, are revolving funds which provide shorter-term financing mainly for recurrent purposes. By December 31, loans issued since the inception of the four funds totalled $237 million, with $220 million having been repaid.
At the end of the year, 2 067 fishermen were members of co-operative societies and there were 64 societies and four federations supported by fisherfolk.
Close contact with the fishing community is maintained by liaison with producer associations and fishermen's co-operative societies through eight Fish Marketing Organi- sation liaison offices at the major fishing ports.
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