PRIMARY PRODUCTION
The total catch of live and fresh marine fish available for local consumption amounted to 84 180 tonnes, with an estimated wholesale value of $1.12 billion.
Marine fish culture is practised within 26 designated fish culture zones, most of which are along the coast of the eastern New Territories. Fish culture licences are issued by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department. At the year's end, there were 1 546 licensed mariculturists. They supplied 3 000 tonnes of live marine fish valued at $170 million during the year.
Freshwater fish are also cultured. Fish ponds covering 1 130 hectares are mostly located in the north-western New Territories where they form part of the wetland system of conservation interest. The area devoted to fish ponds has gradually declined with the increasing urbanisation of the New Territories. During the year, pond culture yielded 5 100 tonnes, or 11 per cent, of freshwater fish for local consumption.
Fisheries Development
The inshore marine environment is under unprecedented pressure from large-scale dredging for marine fill, dumping of mud and reclamation. Besides deteriorating water quality, this also destroys extensive areas of seabed habitats that support the marine fauna and fisheries resources. To mitigate such damage, the Agriculture and Fisheries Department is implementing an artificial reefs project. The project aims at using artificial reefs to enhance the marine habitats favoured by commercial fish species. A variety of artificial habitats will be introduced at strategic areas to help rehabilitate damaged seabed, protect sensitive nursery areas and increase fish production.
The department has commissioned a consultancy study to collect comprehensive information on fisheries resources and fishing operations in Hong Kong waters. Such information will enable the department to formulate fisheries management and conservation measures for the long-term sustainability of fisheries.
Aquaculture studies are directed towards the development of more efficient culture systems and improved husbandry techniques to increase productivity and minimise. the impact on the environment. Many mariculturists are now using environmentally friendly moist pellet feed and have reported improvements of the fish culture environment as well as faster and healthier fish growth.
The larger vessels in Hong Kong's fishing fleet are among the most modern in the region, despite their traditional wooden hulls. The department continues to stimulate the modernisation trend by maintaining development input and providing free advisory services on fishing vessel hull design (including steel hulls) and fishing methods, as well as fishing equipment.
Training classes are held for operators, covering the conventional skills required for safe and effective operation of fishing vessels as well as the use of radio telephones and electronic navigation equipment such as radar and satellite communications. The department also organises sea-fishing endorsement courses to train operators to standards required by the Marine Department for steel-hulled fishing vessels.
The department administers four loan funds servicing the fishing industry: the Fisheries Development Loan Fund, the Fish Marketing Organisation Loan Fund, the World Refugee Year Loan Fund and the Co-operative for American Relief
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