PRIMARY PRODUCTION
The Government established a working group with relevant departments and fishermen's representatives to address the issues and helped the industry to resume operation after the fishing moratorium. Assistance given to the fishermen included. the issue of $46.6 million low-interest loans to 975 affected fishermen, the provision of financial assistance under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme to eligible applicants and other services. The department has advised the fishermen to make early preparation and is also considering, in consultation with fishermen's representatives, long-term measures to help the industry to cope with future moratoria.
Fisheries Development
The fisheries management strategies recommended by the 'Consultancy Study on Fisheries Resources and Fishing Operations in Hong Kong Waters' received general support during a public consultation exercise that ended in late 1998. The department established a working group in June to advise on matters relating to the implementation of fisheries management strategies. The working group comprises representatives from the fishing industry, the green groups and academics. Among other things, the working group would consider details of the introduction of a fishing licensing programme, the need for limiting new entrants to the fishing industry and the designation of fisheries spawning and nursery protection areas in local waters.
In view of the decline of fisheries resources in the traditional fishing grounds and the growing trend for fishermen to venture into more distant waters, the department commissioned a consultancy study to look into the feasibility of developing an offshore fishing industry for Hong Kong, for completion about end-2000.
The artificial reef deployment project was implemented in two phases. The first phase, involving deployment of tyres, boats, quarry rock and concrete artificial reefs in marine parks, was completed in 1999. The preliminary results are very encouraging, with rapid colonisation of artificial reefs by a wide range of marine invertebrates and juvenile fish fry of high-value fish. Over 110 species of fish have been recorded so far. A three-month consultation exercise on the recommendations of the 'Artificial Reef Deployment Study' was completed in September. Public views and comments collected would be taken into consideration in the implementation of the second phase of the project, which would involve deployment of artificial reefs outside existing marine parks.
In 1999, the department continued to conduct aquaculture studies and provide technical services towards the development of more efficient fish culture methods and improved husbandry techniques. The use of commercially available dry pellet feed was introduced to fish farmers. A fish health inspection programme was introduced in May to minimise losses due to fish diseases. Under the programme, staff of the department carried out regular visits to fish culture zones to facilitate early detection of disease outbreaks and to train fish farmers on disease prevention measures. When an outbreak was detected, fish disease diagnosis services would be provided to the fish farms concerned. In May, the department completed a trial scheme of dredging the seabed sediment in the Cheung Sha Wan and Sham Wan Fish Culture Zones with a view to improving the marine ecological environment there.
In August, Typhoon Sam brought heavy rainstorms to Hong Kong causing extensive floods. About 30 hectares of fish ponds were flooded resulting in loss of
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