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Food Safety, Environmental Hygiene, Agriculture and Fisheries
During the year, 949 AFCD-licensed mariculturists operated in 26 designated fish culture zones, supplying consumers with some 1,030 tonnes of live marine fish valued at $86 million.
Freshwater and brackish water fish are reared in fish ponds located mainly in the northwestern New Territories. In 2016, pond fish culture yielded some 2,540 tonnes of fish, or 4 per cent of local freshwater fish consumption.
All local fishing vessels operating in Hong Kong waters are required to register with the department under the Fisheries Protection Ordinance, to control the number of fishing vessels and maintain an appropriate level of fishing in local waters.
The department also combats destructive fishing practices, including trawling, to ensure sustainable development of the industry and to conserve fisheries resources in Hong Kong waters. Thirteen cases of illegal fishing were convicted in 2016.
At the same time, the department helps the industry cope with challenges, including providing credit facilities to fishermen, owners of fish-collecting vessels and fish farmers for sustainable development and general productive purposes. It also offers free training courses to fishermen during the annual fishing moratorium and at Chinese New Year. A $500 million Sustainable Fisheries Development Fund, set up in 2014, helps fishermen adopt sustainable and high-value- added methods of operation, and subsidises programmes and research to enhance the overall competitiveness of the industry. By end-2016, among the 28 applications received, five on aquaculture and two on fisheries-related eco-tourism projects had been approved, involving a total commitment of about $37 million.
To promote sustainable development of the aquaculture industry, the department conducts studies and provides technical support to fish farmers via various programmes. Under its Good Aquaculture Practices Programme and Fish Health Inspection Programme, the department helps fish farmers prevent, diagnose and contain fish disease, and collects water and fish samples for analysis during regular visits to the fish farms. Seminars are held to equip farmers with new techniques and good management practices. In addition, 118 farms take part in the department's voluntary Accredited Fish Farm Scheme, which tags their accredited fish for easy recognition. More than 12,670kg of accredited fish were sold under the scheme in 2016.
Specially designed artificial reefs known as biofilters are used to improve water quality and seabed conditions at fish culture zones at Yim Tin Tsai (East), Kau Sai, Sham Wan and Lo Tik Wan. Alternative biofilter designs are being explored to suit the conditions of different fish culture
zones.
To meet public demand for recreational fishing and to help mariculturists diversify their business, 34 mariculturists in 11 fish culture zones have the department's approval to operate recreational fishing businesses on licensed fish culture rafts.
The department monitors red tides and issues red tide alerts through support groups at the fish culture zones and via its website and press releases, to reduce the impact of red tides on the mariculture industry. In 2016, 11 red tides were recorded in Hong Kong waters.
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