Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries
million Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund was set up in 2014 to help fishermen adopt sustainable and high value-added methods of operation, and subsidise programmes and research to enhance the overall competitiveness of the industry.
Legislation to ban trawling in Hong Kong waters came into effect on 31 December 2012 as an integral part of efforts to restore Hong Kong's damaged seabed and depleted fisheries resources. One-off assistance was provided to affected trawler owners, their local deckhands. and affected fish collectors.
In 2012, amendments to the Fisheries Protection Ordinance introduced a series of measures to control fishing activities in Hong Kong waters and conserve fisheries resources, including (a) setting up a registration system for local fishing vessels; (b) limiting new entrants to control the number of fishing vessels and fishing; (c) restricting the fishing activities of non-fishing vessels in Hong Kong waters and prohibiting fishing by non-local fishing vessels; and (d) designating fisheries protection areas. By December 2014, 3,741 certificates for registration of fishing vessels had been issued, 729 of these in 2014.
The AFCD conducts studies and provides technical support to fish farmers to help the sustainable development of the aquacultural industry. To enhance productivity, the department continues to implement a fish health management programme that helps fish farmers prevent, diagnose and contain fish disease. AFCD staff visit fish farms regularly under the AFCD's 'Good Aquaculture Practices Programme' to collect water and fish samples for analysis. Seminars are held for farmers to learn new techniques and good management practices. A total of 116 farms have joined the AFCD's voluntary 'Accredited Fish Farm Scheme! To get accredited, farms must adopt good practices that raise their hygiene standards and fish quality. Analyses of drug residues and heavy metals in fish are conducted to ensure that the cultured fish are fit for consumption. Over 21,000 kilograms of accredited fish of various species were sold under the scheme in 2014. The accredited fish carry tags for easy recognition.
Specially designed artificial reefs known as biofilters are used to improve water quality and seabed conditions at the fish culture zones at Kau Sai, Sham Wan and Lo Tik Wan. Alternative designs of biofilters are being explored to suit the conditions of different fish culture zones.
To meet public demand for recreational fishing facilities and to help mariculturists diversify their business, some 50 mariculturists in 12 fish culture zones are currently approved by AFCD to operate recreational fishing businesses on licensed fish culture rafts.
To protect the mariculture industry, the department monitors red tides and issues red tide alerts through support groups at the fish culture zones. Alerts are also posted on the AFCD's website and conveyed through press releases. In 2014, 23 red tides were recorded in Hong Kong waters.
Wholesale Markets
Fresh food produce is sold in wholesale markets managed by the AFCD, the VMO, the Fish Marketing Organisation (FMO) and the private sector. In 2014, government wholesale markets handled 256,200 tonnes of vegetables, 9,700 tonnes of poultry, 53,400 tonnes of freshwater fish
163